Nana Dankwa

Biography

Nana Dankwa is running for House District 90. He believes in fighting for teacher pay increases and keeping money in public education and providing public school teachers the resources and tools they need to educate all Oklahoma children. He will also advocate for fair lending and economic growth. Dankwa believes in strong job creation, fighting for a living wage, a healthy work-life balance, and advocating for employee protections. He will also advocate for transparent and affordable physical and mental health care for all people and believes that we need to protect Medicare and Social Security.

Survey Issues

1.What do you feel should be the government’s role in public health and welfare?

As a former healthcare worker, and the husband of a nurse I know the toll unaffordable and inaccessible healthcare access is having on our state. I worked as a Surgical Technologist at Dean McGee for 9 years where I saw patients from all across the state spending their hard-earned dollars traveling to Oklahoma City because they couldn’t get the care they needed in their communities. Oklahomans deserve high-quality accessible and affordable healthcare. House District 90 deserves a representative with hands-on experience with the complexities and challenges our healthcare systems face. 

2. What are your views on individuals being able to safely and securely access sensitive medical procedures in privacy and without state control?

I will always be a fierce defender of reproductive rights. House District 90 deserves someone who will defend against the ongoing government overreach occurring at the State Capitol. Healthcare decisions should be left between patients and their doctors, not politicians. 

3. What changes would you make to ensure every Oklahoman has the chance to participate meaningfully in the democratic process?

I believe people deserve to understand the processes of government and they deserve to participate. I also believe that public servants have a responsibility to stay true to the constituents they serve. I will use this same diligence and everything he has learned to ensure our local government is accountable to the people of House District 90. 

4. What changes would you make to ensure every Oklahoman has the chance to participate meaningfully in the electoral process?

Oklahomans, for the first time, can register to vote online through the Oklahoma Voter Portal. This incredibly useful tool increases accessibility for Oklahoma voters to register, update their registration, find their polling location, preview their ballot, and check their registration status. 

Although the Oklahoma Election Board has done work to promote the new technology I would like to see further investment in promoting the Oklahoma Voter Portal.

5. Currently, only one political party in Oklahoma allows Independent voters to participate in primary elections. What will you do to ensure that all registered voters are able to fully express their political preferences?

I support opening primaries. Open primaries have bipartisan support, both blue and red states utilize this system. 

6. Research from Pew Research Center indicates that “the role of money in politics” is consistently one of the top concerns of American voters across the ideological spectrum. What will you do to address this growing issue?

We must fully fund the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, so they have the resources to do their critical work to provide campaign finance transparency and enforce Oklahoma’s campaign finance laws. 

7. Many Oklahomans experience discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and other factors; how would you address these problems as an elected leader?

Diversity is an asset, not a liability. Oklahoma has seen increased attacks on our communities from politicians like Ryan Walters and Kevin Stitt. We have seen Ryan Walters’s attacks on LBGTQ+ students, mandates that discriminate against varying faiths, and countless other hateful attacks that serve only to divide us. We have seen Kevin Stitt’s attacks on the sovereignty of Oklahoma’s 39 Native Nations to the detriment of all Oklahomans. We deserve representation that knows our differences are our strengths. 

8. How will you ensure that First Amendment rights to freedom of religion, speech, protest, and press are protected from infringement?

My parents came to the United States, and Oklahoma specifically in search of a better life. They instilled in me a deep-seated respect for the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the ideals of American democracy. As an attorney, I am concerned with the attacks on these values from politicians like Ryan Walters and Kevin Stitt. Oklahomans have been dragged into paying for frivolous lawsuits defending flagrant violations of the First Amendment. Whether it be mandating religious instruction in public schools, or attempting to use public dollars in religious charter schools. As House District 90’s next representative, I will take the values my parents instilled to the legislature. I will stand up and be a voice for the Constitutions of Oklahoma and the United States. It’s common sense.

9. What issues do you see in our criminal legal system that could be reformed to be more equitable and efficient?

Oklahomans deserve a fair and equitable Criminal Justice System that works. House District 90 encompasses parts of Cleveland and Oklahoma Counties, where numerous deaths of persons in state custody have occurred in Oklahoma and Cleveland County Jail. Many of these individuals were experiencing a mental health crisis that led to their arrest, and some had yet to have their day in court. Oklahoma and Cleveland County Jails are ongoing investigations for civil rights violations, failed health inspections, staff being arrested for smuggling contraband, and numerous other issues that are untenable. It is past time that we work with partners in County governments to find solutions. 

Oklahoma has made strides in addressing wrongful convictions through meaningful legislation that addresses evidence reform, eyewitness identification reform, DNA testing, and reform regarding informants. I will continue that work when elected. 

10. What measures would you take to address food insecurity in Oklahoma?

The minimum wage is a needed protection for hardworking Oklahomans. Oklahomans deserve fair wages for the hard work they’re doing every day. The reliability of a fair minimum wage is critical to working families in making informed financial decisions. The cost of living has outpaced the current minimum wage in Oklahoma and it is past time for a pay raise. 

Additionally, the state government must accept federal funding, our tax dollars, for free and reduced lunches for our public school children. 

11. How would you protect people renting in Oklahoma from predatory landlords and expand affordable housing options in our state?

Like most Oklahomans, I have seen how real estate has rapidly impacted so many hard working families that hope to achieve a critical tenant of the American Dream- owning a home. I will use my experiences in mortgage banking and consumer protection to advocate for fair lending and affordable homes. As a consumer protection and compliance attorney I know how important well-thought-out regulations are to protecting consumers and businesses. I will approach regulatory measures with careful consideration and confer with stakeholders.