Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Presidential hopeful
Former Trade Minister, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has revealed why he abandoned his international appointments to accept a ministerial role under the previous National Democratic Congress’ (NDCs) administration.
The diplomat told Rainbow Radio 87.5FM that, he saw his entry into public service, and politics as a sacrifice.
The flagbearer hopeful said he sacrificed three international appointments in the bid to serve his country.
The former Chief Executive of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), who was nominated as Minister for Trade and Industry by President John Dramani Mahama in 2014, vetted and approved by Parliament’s Appointments Committee added, he sacrificed these international appointments in the interest of Ghanaians but some people may overlook that sacrifice.
He said not everybody will appreciate my sacrifice but if you examine the history of Ghana, and try to find out how people have ‘’consciously sacrificed’’ such appointments over the past 60 years, you will not find one.
He said for him to sacrifice the appointments and come to Ghana to earn a local salary; ‘’I am sure you won’t get three (3) to five (5) people.’’
‘’I am the only Ghanaian who in the course of his professional life, has consciously sacrificed three international appointments; two times at the African Development Bank, once at the Commonwealth Organization in order to come and serve my nation.’’
For him, ‘’it was the DNA that Kwame Nkrumah injected into my body when I was a young pioneer at the age 10, and I was indoctrinated with the philosophies of Nkrumah and what he tried to do for Africa.’’
He is hopeful he will beat other potential candidates, which includes former President John Mahama.
According to him, he remains the best candidate for the party compared to the others based on his experience.
He is a former Minister of Communication in Ghana, one-time Ambassador of Ghana to the United States and Mexico, Minister of Education, Minister responsible for Mines and Energy and a member of UNESCO’s Executive Board in Paris.
He served on former President John Rawlings' cabinet between 1994 and 2000. Spio-Garbrah is a member of the board of directors of South Africa Telekom, AngloGold Ashanti and recently of Vodacom. He was a member of the International Advisory Board of the African Press Organization (APO).
Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah’s career reflects more than 40 years of top leadership and senior management experience focusing on International Communications and Knowledge Management within the spheres of International Organisations, Government, Banking and Finance, Non-Governmental Organisations, and Private Business and Enterprise with a focus on Africa.
