# John Dumelo

John Matthew Kofi Setor Dumelo (born 3 February 1984) is a Ghanaian actor and politician.
He is the Member of Parliament representing the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency.
He currently serves as the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture of the Republic of Ghana, having been sworn into office on 13 March 2025 after his appointment by President John Dramani Mahama.

## Early life and education

Dumelo was born in Ghana. His parents are John Dumelo, who was a civil engineer, and Antoinette Dumelo, a customs officer.
Dumelo had his basic education at Christ the King School in Accra. He attended Achimota School and was part of the Drama Club.
He further studied Civil Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), but left before completing his studies. He contested in "Mr University" and won at KNUST. Later, he enrolled in GIMPA's School of Public Service and Governance.

## Career

He started acting in the early 1990s in a 1992 movie called Baby Thief while he was attending Christ the King School. He was paid 20 thousand old Ghana cedis (currently 2 Ghana cedis) at age 7.

## Business ventures

Dumelo is also an entrepreneur. He launched his clothing line (J.Melo) in 2012.
He is also involved in both crop and animal farming.

## Engagement in politics

During the National Democratic Congress (Ghana) NDC Party's campaign In 2016, Dumelo was one of the most influential celebrities to campaign for the NDC government. Rumours have spread that, as an appreciation for his engagement and patriotism to the party, he was called and appointed by the former president of Ghana H.E. John Dramani Mahama, to serve his party as a Director of Operations for pro-NDC youth group for the NDC.
On 19 July 2019, Dumelo picked up a nomination form to contest in the NDC primaries as a parliamentary candidate . On 24 August 2019, he won the NDC parliamentary primaries to represent the NDC in Ayawaso West Wougon Constituency in the 2020 general elections. He successfully launched his campaign manifesto for the 2020 election on 18 October 2020, promising to commit half of his salary to youth development in the constituency if elected. On 7 December 2020, Dumelo lost the parliamentary elections to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) incumbent Lydia Alhassan for the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency.
He contested as a parliamentary candidate of the Ayawaso West Wuogon on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress, and won the 2024 election.
He was appointed the Deputy Minister-designate for Food and Agriculture in February 2025. He was later vetted and approved by Parliament before being sworn into office on 13 March 2025.

## Personal life

Dumelo is married to Gifty Mawunya Nkornu. He held a grand wedding at Royal Senchi Resort in Akosombo. The couple's first child was born in 2018. Their second child, a daughter, was born in 2022.
On 1 April 2014, he emerged as the first Ghanaian to hit a million likes on Facebook.
In October 2023, Dumelo pledged he would trek "backward barefoot from the UG main gate to Presec main gate" if Presec-Legon won the Ghana National Science and Maths Quiz. He completed the walk after Presec-Legon won.

## Filmography

He has acted in films including:
* 4 Play (2010) as Rex
* 40 Looks Good on You (2019)
* Adams Apples film series (2011–2012)
* After the Wedding
* The Agency (2022)
* Baby Thief (1991)
* Beautiful Ruins (2016) as Kojo
* Black Men Rock (2018)
* Blackmoney (2012)
* Blind Lust
* Blood Vessel (2023) as Commander John Abe
* Chelsea (2010) as Marlon
* Crime Suspect
* Double Cross (2014) as Danny Frimpong
* End of Brides War
* End of the Maidens
* End of Mirror of Life (2011)
* Final Innocent Sin
* The Game (2010)
* Ghetto Queen
* Gold Not Silver
* Hearts of men (2009)
* Hero
* Hijack '93 (2024) as Captain Ambrose
* Holy Secret
* Humble Hero
* Hunted House
* If God Be for Us (2016)
* The King is Mine
* Letters to my Mother
* Love Alone (2010)
* Love or Something Like That (2014) as Alex Walker
* The Maidens
* Marriage Planner
* Men in Love (2010)
* Mirror of Life (2011)
* My Fantasy
* Never Again
* A Night with Her (2011) as Drill
* A Northern Affair (2014)
* Of Sentimental Value
* One in a Million
* One Night in Vegas
* The Perfect Picture (2009) as Fiifi Taylor
* The Perfect Picture - Ten Years Later (2019) as Fiifi Taylor
* The Prince Bride
* A Private Storm (2010)
* Queens Pride
* Secret Shadows
* Single, Married and Complicated
* Single Six
* The Snake Boy
* Suncity
* The Supremo (2010) as Charles
* Tales of Nazir – The Movie
* Ties That Bind
* To Love a Prince

## Awards and recognition

| Year | Award | Category | Film | Result |
| 2010 | Best of Nollywood Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | The Maidens | Nominated |
| 2010 | Africa Movie Academy Awards | Most Promising Actor | Heart of Men | Nominated |
| 2011 | Afro Australian Movies and Music Awards | African Most outstanding Actor | | Won |
| 2011 | Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actor in a supporting role | A Private Storm | Nominated |
| 2012 | Ghana Movie Awards | Best actor in a Lead role | Queen Latifa | Nominated |
| 2013 | Ghana Movie Awards | Best Actor in a lead role | A Northern Affair | Won |
| 2017 | 2017 Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) | Best Actor West Africa | A Northern Affair | Won |
In January 2023, Dumelo was honored by the University of Ghana for his philanthropic gestures to their students.

## Philanthropy

Dumelo paid the fees for visually impaired law student Gabriel Selasie Doe at the Ghana School of Law, Makola.