Twenty years ago, I met a remarkable young man who was intelligent, knowledgeable, confident, eloquent and very humble.
This young man is Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah. He became one of the few Ghanaian politicians I have keenly observed because l strongly believe he is one of the best gifts God has given to Ghana and Africa.
I met Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah when he was Minister for Education in 1998 and had initiated plans to creating the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund). The first time, I interacted with him, I was blown away with his knowledge, his eloquence and his affability contrary to the misconceptions and rumours about him being arrogant. The acceptance of that perception smacks off ignorance!
I am not surprised that today, this same young man, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah now quite older and senior to his fellow flag bearer aspirants, has decided to lead the NDC and Ghana as President especially at this time of economic hardship and “chaos” in his party, the NDC, when he has become so appealing to a lot of Ghanaian stakeholder groups whose support any Presidential candidate needs to win a national election.
THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY
Dr. Spio-Garbrah is God fearing; so he is admired in the religious community, both Christian and Islamic. I fondly remember when he gave me a phone call one time to make a request, but before he did, he politely asked if I had gone to church to give thanks to God. It was the last Sunday of the year. I was taken aback at his question but when I thought about it l realized it was just a sincere and a caring question coming from a person who revered God.
Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, unlike other politicians and diplomats, displayed his humility and fear of God when after being in very high public and international offices like UNESCO, the World Bank, the Commonwealth Telecoms Organization (CTO) African Development Bank etc, went to work for and serve God directly at Action Chapel International. For two years, (2001-2003), he was the Chief of Staff of the Church. Ten years later (2011-2013), he became the Chief Executive Officer of the same church, where Bishop Duncan Williams was the head. Ghanaians would prefer a leader who has a proven passion for God and who has toiled in His vineyard to assist ordinary people. The Christian and Islamic communities have long sought a leader who would be faithful to God rather than to Mammon- the evil spirit behind the love of money.
ACADEMIA AND THINK TANKS
It would interest you to know that The Academia and Think Tanks in Ghana and in the diaspora, greatly admire Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah. He appeals to them because many lecturers and professors see him as “one of them”; while many students and youth leaders appreciate his numerous leadership roles in Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana in the 70s.
In my research on Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, l discovered that at a very young age at 9, little Ekwow excellently passed the Old Common Entrance Exams that entitled the candidate to enter SHS in the 1960s. He obtained his “O Level” at the age of 14, “A level” at age 16 and got his BA (Hons) Degree at 19. In most cases he was at the top or near the top of his classes.
When Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah became President of Dominion University College, he provided academic leadership and Institutional Management which culminated in professional excellence in teaching, training, research and consultancy services at the University making it one of the prestigious institutions in Ghana.
A LOT OF OTHER POWERFUL GROUPS/COMMUNITIES
Dr. Spio-Garbrah without doubt appeals to Youth and Student Groups, Women’s Groups, Diplomatic and International Community, the Business Community, Farmers and Fishermen, Telecoms, ICT and Technology Groups and the Media and Journalists.
Knowing him personally, when I heard about his intention to contest the NDC flagbearership, I became interested in knowing the message he has for the now defunct Youth and women’s wing of the NDC as well as the Foot Soldiers and Grassroots.
In my anticipation, I logged on to his news site www.spiogarbrah.org and read his 7-POINT agenda. In fact his first point is a very excellent plan for the youth. He plans to assist the Youth with Education, Skills training, Scholarships and jobs. Then, he plans to strengthen the women’s wing of the party to include income generating activities.
As if that is not enough, he also intends to create a credit union to enable NDC members and the grassroots gain access to funds. He would also create NDC welfare Committees, which are lacking in the party, at the National, regional and Constituency level.
I have also been following the other aspirants to find out the messages they have for the youth and women and intellectual wings of the party. To tell the truth, Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah stands out.
Dr. Spio-Gabrah is very media friendly. I vividly remember him being the one who introduced the “Meet The Press” series for Ministers and “Post-cabinet Briefings” to the media. Indeed, as he campaigns for flagbearership, he schedules Mondays to meet the press in his campaign office and sells his 7-Point agenda to delegates through them.
If Ghanaians and the NDC want a two-term candidate who could defeat Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo and the NPP in the 2020 General elections, then they should choose Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah especially in the wake of a recent research or survey conducted by some academics at the University of Ghana whose findings indicate that former President John Dramani Mahama would lose massively against Nana Akufo-Addo should he be presented as a presidential candidate.
The findings indicate that John Mahama would poll only 33.3 % of votes and Akufo-Addo, 49. 3%.
From all indications, I see Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah as the transformational leader Ghanaians and the NDC need so I highly recommend him to the NDC Delegates because he is marketable, winnable and “committed to excellence and focused effort”!!!
It is Spio’s Time. It is the NDC’s Time. It is Ghana’s Time.
Credit: Joseph K. Yiadom, Former Senior Lecturer- Sunyani Technical University
