Dr. Spio-Garbrah tipped to partner Mahama

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah is expected to partner Ghana’s opposition leader John Dramani Mahama ahead of the crucial December 7 presidential elections.

In the realm of Ghanaian politics, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah stands out as a seasoned politician with a wealth of experience, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to national development. As discussions and speculations brew about potential candidates for the role of running mate to former President John Dramani Mahama in the upcoming December 7, 2024 Presidential elections, Dr. Spio-Garbrah emerges as a compelling choice with a myriad of qualities that make him a suitable partner for the task at hand. Let’s delve into the political acumen of Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah and examine 10 reasons why he would be an excellent running mate alongside John Dramani Mahama.

1. Extensive Experience

Dr. Spio-Garbrah boasts a remarkable background in both public service and the private sector, having served in various high-ranking government positions and excelled in leadership roles in multinational organizations. His wealth of experience equips him with the expertise needed to navigate the complexities of governance.

2. Policy Expertise

With a strong understanding of policy formulation and implementation, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has the capacity to contribute valuable insights to strategic decision-making processes, ensuring that the policies put forth by the administration are well-informed and impactful.

3. Visionary Leadership

Dr. Spio-Garbrah is known for his visionary leadership style, characterized by forward-thinking and innovative approaches to addressing societal challenges. His ability to conceptualize long-term goals and mobilize resources towards achieving them is a valuable asset for any political team.

4. Effective Communicator

A skilled communicator, Dr. Spio-Garbrah possesses the ability to articulate complex issues in a clear and engaging manner, which is essential for fostering effective communication with the public and other stakeholders.

5. Team Player

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has demonstrated a track record of collaboration and consensus-building in his interactions with colleagues and stakeholders. His ability to work effectively in a team setting makes him a valuable team player in a political leadership role.

6. Ethical Integrity

Integrity is a cornerstone of Dr. Spio-Garbrah’s character, as he upholds high ethical standards and principles in his conduct. His commitment to ethical governance makes him a trustworthy and credible leader.

7. Strategic Thinker
Dr. Spio-Garbrah is known for his strategic thinking abilities, which enable him to analyze complex issues, anticipate future challenges, and devise innovative solutions. His strategic foresight is instrumental in navigating the dynamic political landscape.

8. Commitment to Development

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah has a deep-seated commitment to national development and a passion for advancing the socio-economic well-being of the Ghanaian people. His dedication to development initiatives aligns with the goals of a progressive political agenda.

9. Resilience and Determination

In the face of adversity, Dr. Spio-Garbrah has demonstrated resilience and determination, persisting in his pursuit of positive change despite challenges. His unwavering resolve makes him a strong and resilient leader.

10. Unity and Inclusivity

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah advocates for unity and inclusivity in politics, emphasizing the importance of bringing people together and embracing diversity. His commitment to fostering a cohesive and inclusive society resonates with the values of a progressive political movement.

As the political landscape evolves in the lead-up to the December 7, 2024 Presidential elections, the potential partnership between Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah and former President John Dramani Mahama holds promise for a formidable team equipped to lead Ghana towards a future of prosperity and progress. With their combined strengths and complementary qualities, they have the potential to inspire a new era of inclusive and visionary leadership that addresses the aspirations of the Ghanaian people.

Profile of H.E Ekwow Spio-Garbrah

Ekwow Spio-Garbrah (born 1953) is a Ghanaian politician who was the Minister for Trade and Industry from 2014 to 2017 in the Mahama administration. He was formerly the Minister of Communications, Minister of Education and Acting Minister of Mines & Energy in the Rawlings administration. He also previously served as Ghana’s ambassador to the United States and Mexico. He is a former CEO of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation.

Early career

Ekwow Spio-Garbrah’s early business experience included working as a mortgage banker in New Jersey, as a sales executive with Southwestern Bell, and as chairman of the Middle East Africa Group within the international public relations firm of Hill and Knowlton in New York. In that capacity, from 1979 to 1985, he provided investment, export and tourism promotion counsel to the governments of Indonesia, Turkey, the Netherlands and Austria; financial relations advice to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, Crédit Agricole of France, UBAF-Arab American Bank, and energy sector intelligence to OPEC.

From 1988 to 1991, Spio-Garbrah was a Corporate Relations Officer at the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank affiliate, in Washington, DC. From 1991 to 1994 he was Head of Communication at the African Development Bank, directing the bank’s global corporate and marketing communications and acting as institutional spokesman.

Ambassador to the United States

As Ambassador to the United States from 1994 to 1997, Spio-Garbrah was noted for his success in rebuilding Ghana’s image across the United States, including organising an unprecedented eight-city investment promotion programme for Ghana’s then-President H.E. Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings in the U.S. As a result, partly of the successful bilateral programmes he executed, Ghana became the first country to be visited by U.S. President Bill Clinton during his famous five-country Africa visit in 1998 and is now a recipient of the Millennium Challenge Account. President Clinton’s visit to Ghana was also followed by visits from President George Bush and Barack Obama, making it the only sub-Saharan African country to receive all three Presidents.

Minister of Communication

As a Minister of Communication of Ghana, from 1997 to 1998,[9] Spio-Garbrah initiated, developed and implemented policies and programmes that supported the increasing convergence of telecommunications, broadcasting, the internet, publishing, news media and postal services, all of which were under his supervision. Concurrently, as chairman of the National Communication Authority (NCA), he had responsibility for regulating all aspects of the telecom, Internet and broadcasting sectors. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah was also in charge of the Public Education Committee which successfully re-introduced the VAT to Ghana after a disastrous first attempt in the early 1990s had left several protesters dead. The VAT has since mobilized USD billions for Ghana’s socio-economic and infrastructure development in Ghana.

Education Minister

While Education Minister from 1998 to 2001, Spio-Garbrah was credited with the creation of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), which has since mobilized over USD Billions for educational sector infrastructure, transportation, equipment and scholarships. The GETFund law has been widely praised as one of the most transformative pieces of legislation in Africa relating to the education sector.

Minister for Trade and Industry

From 2014 to January 2017 Ekwow Spio-Grabrah served as Minister for Trade and Industry for the Republic of Ghana. In this position, he led in all aspects of national policy making and initiation of legislation for various aspects of domestic and international trade as well as promoting industry and private sector/business dialogue, and collaboration for Ghana’s competitiveness. He supervised agencies such as the Ghana Free Zones Board, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, the National Standards Authority, the National Board for Small Scale Industries and the Rural Enterprises Programme.

It is important to anchor the point that Spio-Garbrah is currently the Chairman of the African Business Centre for Developing Education (ABCDE), based in Ghana. He has also been a Chairman/CEO of several Pan-African non-governmental organizations, CEO of a church, and has held senior positions in the world of banking and financial services. He serves as chairman for Solarfi, a renewable energy company.