Spio-Garbrah dumps politics?

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah appears to have hanged his political boots, after his abortive attempt at taking another shot at the ruling National Democratic Congress’ presidential ticket in July this year.

In a surprise move, the resigned vice chairman of the governing party and former chief executive officer of the Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO), who had been a subject of deep controversy since he accused President John Mills of not being his own man, seems to have found solace in a totally new venture managing a congregation.

The Globe newspaper has in authority that the former minister of state and ambassador has been appointed the Chief Executive Officer of one of Ghana’s renowned Charismatic Churches, Action Chapel International.

Dr Spio-Garbrah will now head and run the Arch-Bishop Duncan Williams-led church. The Globe newspaper got hints of the former CTO head's new appointment last week.

The ace politician would now spend much more of his time on the church instead of his dream of becoming Ghana’s next president. It is, however, unclear if his new appointment is a harbinger of his numbered days with mainstream politics in Ghana.

Dr Spio-Garbrah has over the last decade not hidden his presidential ambitions. He contested then candidate John Mills and others such as Mahama Iddrisu and Eddie Annan for the flagbearer position of the National Democratic Congress prior to the 2008 general elections.

Early this year, he announced plans to challenge President Mills for the 2012 ticket, but pulled out at the last minute due to his inability to marshal enough signatures of endorsement for his nomination forms.

Sources of the Globe said Dr Spio-Garbrah whose voluntary resignation from the CTO took effect from October has been seen at the Church premises on more than one occasion in the past few weeks preparing to settle and take up his new challenge.

Dr Spio-Garbrah himself has chosen to remain silent on his new appointment. He deferred comments to the Church when contacted by the Globe.

The 56-year-old, was appointed Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) on September 8, 2003.

With his 25 years of high level experience in government diplomacy, business, banking and consulting, his tenure is said to have greatly impacted the CTO.

He initiated a wide range of actions and programmes to deepen and enrich the CTO’s reputation in the areas of research and studies; consultancy and advisory services; the development of unique knowledge-sharing events; as well as training and capacity building for CTO member officials.