Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Paul Kagame of North Tongu District of Volta Region

Let me give a brief history of His Excellency Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda before I come back to the title or subject matter of this article. His Excellency Paul Kagame was born on 23rd October, 1957 the time our beloved country Ghana had her independence. He is a Rwanda politician and a former military leader.

He is the 4th and current President of Rwanda, having taken office in 2000 when his predecessor, Pasteur Bizimungu, resigned. Kagame previously commanded the Rwanda Patriotic Front, the Uganda-based rebel force that invaded Rwanda and was one of the parties of the conflict during the Rwanda genocide. He was considered Rwanda’s de facto leader when he served as Vice President and a Minister of Defense from 1994 to 2000.

He was re-elected in August 2017 with an official result of nearly 99% in an election criticized for numerous irregularities. He has been described as the “most impressive” and “among the most repressive” African leaders. (Wikipedia). It will not be fair on my part, if I did not give a brief account of Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa whom I am about to write to because of his selfless leadership skills. Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was born in 1980 at Aveyime-Battor in North Tongu District of Volta Region, Ghana. He attended the University of Ghana, and had a BA Political Science/ Philosophy. He is currently the Member of Parliament for North Tongu District. My article is going to be based on all the necessary measures taken by the Hon. Member of Parliament of North Tongu District in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic so far, which triggered me to say that He is the Paul Kagame of our Time in North Tongu district of Volta Region.

Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa took some comprehensive measures when Ghana started to record its first case of Covid-19 pandemic in his beloved district. He is someone who is always on top of issues.

In the wake of this Covid-19 pandemic declared by the World Health Organization because of how fast the virus is spreading to other countries when China had her first case in Wuhan, drastic measures or steps have been taken by the affected countries and even those countries who are not affected. In line of this development, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament of North Tongu district of Volta Region of Ghana has taken some steps in this regard which is very recommendable. Some of the measures were:

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hon.Okudzeto Ablakwa presented some items to the Battor Catholic Hospital. This was what he posted on Facebook on the 20th March, 2020, “I returned to the Battor Catholic Hospital in my beloved constituency as promised to deliver the final set of items to complete our Coronavirus preparedness. With PPEs, infrared thermometers, gum boots, goggles, shields, testing kits and others readily available for our heroic frontline medical staff, we can humbly proclaim we are doing our bit to defeat Covid-19.

We have also rolled out a special package to cater for the health needs of the aged above 60 years due to their vulnerability as claimed by the experts” This is a leader who really knows the need of his people that he represent in parliament. He is the voice for the voiceless. I rain on him the following words; a visionary leader, a generational thinker, a public-spirited, a philanthropist and above all a man of action.

Fast forward, after 8 days of his presentation to the Battor Catholic Hospital, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the 28th March, 2020, went ahead to present a Comprehensive Risk Insurance Policy covering all the 10 frontline staff of Covid-19 case Management Team.

This was what he posted on Facebook on the said date above, “North Tongu Covid-19 Update: This afternoon, I presented a comprehensive Risk Insurance Policy covering all the 10 frontline staff of our Covid-19 case Management Team valid for one year to the Medical Superintendent of the Battor Hospital”

Also, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in his preparedness in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in his district, also, inspected their newly isolation Centre which per his observation will be ready for use in a week time. What more can you ask for from such a leader who is always putting things ahead of time before the unthinkable happens?

Lastly, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in his wisdom and how concern he is about his beloved district, came up with a special package called North Tongu Lockdown Support Programme. The original intention was to help those of his beloved district members leaving in the affected lockdown places as announced by the President of the Republic of Ghana on 27th March, 2020, in his 4th Address to the Nation about this Covid-19 pandemic which has been come necessary to lockdown some affected places in the country for two weeks in order to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. As I write this article, the team was able to reach out to some 125 applicants with cash grants.

In a post on Twitter, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa congratulated the team. This was what he twitted “Grateful to the team and our coordinator, Prof. Emmanuel Netsey-Afedo for the hard work and efficiency” We shall overcome.

One lovely thing about the North Tongu Lockdown Support Programme is that there is going to be a thorough scrutiny and investigation to help those who are really from his district and are in dire need of support. This is indeed a proactive decision taken by the team. Kudos to them!

Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has done a lot for his district so far, not only during this Covid-19 pandemic. Here are some few highlights:

? In the education sector, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa inspected two important projects in the town of Juapong. The projects are: A 700-capacity girls’ dormitory with a laundry, ironing bay, store rooms and other ancillaries for Dorfor Senior High School. A 200-capacity kindergarten block and a play area for the Juapong Roman Catholic Basic School.

? He has distributed 4,000 books to kids staying at home due to nationwide closure of schools on 25th March, 2020.

? During the 6th March, he took an advantage of the ceremony by replacing all old extra furniture and weak furniture to cater for five fastest growing basic schools in Battor- the capital of my beloved constituency. He noted vividly that, this initiative will continue to some other parts of the district.

For you to really be on the same page with me why I said or I am saying that, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is the Paul Kagame of North Tongu District, let me give you some small account about His Excellency Paul Kagame the President of Rwanda below.

During this Covid-19 pandemic which affected Rwanda as a country as well, His Excellency Paul Kagame has been in the news across the global for his altruistic leadership skills he has exhibited so far.

His Excellency Paul Kagame of Rwanda said “The Ministry of Local Government will begin door to door provision of foodstuffs and groceries to vulnerable homes at village and sector level”

This development became obligatory when Rwanda reported 60 coronavirus infection, majority who flew from Dubai, UAE.

His Excellency Paul Kagane had declared two weeks lockdown but when things are getting shoddier, he drawn-out the lockdown date to 19 of April, 2020. Africa is proud to have someone like His Excellency Paul Kagame of Rwanda. At this juncture I humbly doff my hat for me. Long live the President of Rwanda, His Excellency Paul Kagame, and the people’s choice. No wonder he won the election in 2017 by 99% margin.

The most mesmerizing of all is that, His Excellency Paul Kagame aside the free distribution of food to Rwandans, he has also announced, free Energy (Electricity) to his people. What a visionary leader!

So far in Africa, His Excellency the President of Rwanda launched a smartphone factory in Rwanda and this factory is employing about 90% of Rwandans. His Excellency Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa are like identical twins when it comes to leadership and development.

This is what made me to come out with this article in honor of Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament of North Tongu District of Volta Region of Ghana for always thinking about his people who put him there in parliament to represent them.

According to Benjamin Franklin, “Well Done Is Better than Well said.” On this note Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa deserved a well done!

So when I say or said, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is the Paul Kagame of Our time in North Tongu District of Volta Region, these were some of the good things he has done and he will continue to do for his people.

Here are some powerful quotes on leadership I would like to put across which Hon.Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has shown so far to my best of knowledge:

1. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” ~ John Quincy Adams

2. “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower” ~Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder”

3. “Leaders instill in their people a hope for success and a belief in themselves. Positive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals” ~ Unknown

4. “A good objective of leadership is to help those who are doing poorly to do well and to help those who are doing well to do even better” ~ Jim Rohn

5. “The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet”

Many are the well-wishers or praise singers of Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa because of his selfless leadership style. Do you know why? I will tell you here and now. He always think about the whole district not only the political party he is affiliated to. This is a true definition of a leader.

With no doubt in my mind, I would like to passionately, sincerely, humbly doff my hat in bliss for Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for being the Paul Kagame of our time in North Tongu District of Volta Region. These two individuals are indeed a blessing to Africa and the World.

May the super terrestrial being (God) give them more wisdom, knowledge and understanding in order to do more. More grease to their elbows. Amen! North Tongu is indeed rising!

Together we shall overcome this Covid-19 pandemic

Let us try to observe all the preventive measures for betterment of all.

Long live North Tongu District!

Long live Volta Region!!

Long live Ghana!!! Credit: Francis Pious Egoeh francispiousegoeh@gmail.com