NDC Group Wants Spio In Mahama's Gov't...Expresses Chagrin At His Exclusion

A youth group with a strong affiliation to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Young Democrats have made a passionate appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to reconsider his decision and give Dr Spio Garbrah an appointment in his government. The group is of the view that, considering the rich experience and track records of the former Communication Minister under former President Rawlings� regime, it will be more than suicidal not only to the Mahama-led administration, but to the NDC to exclude Dr Spio Gabrah from the current government. In a statement signed by the Director of Communications of the group, Justice Ali and distributed in Accra last week, the group expressed disappointment in the President for not including Dr Spio Gabrah in his list of appointees to champion the Better Ghana Agenda started by the late President, Prof J E A Mills. �We express our chagrin and disappointment in the fact that such a man of integrity and proven track record as Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah is conspicuously missing from the Mahama administration,� the group noted According to the Young Democrats, it is not too late for the President to assign the one-time failed flag bearer aspirant, given the fact that the President has authority to hire and fire. �We believe that when given the chance, Dr. Spio-Garbrah would bring on board his experiences as Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization, as a former Ghana Ambassador to the US and Mexico, and as a minister who has served in the Ministries of Communication, Mines and Education,� they noted Providing a vivid achievement of Dr Spio Gabrah to buttress their call, the group stated that �as an Ambassador to the US, he was instrumental in rebuilding the then dwindling image of Ghana across the US. He also played a key role in organizing the unprecedented eight-city investment promotion program for Ghana�s president in the US.� �It was also during his tenure as Minister of Education that the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GetFund) was established to provide funds for the accelerated infrastructural development of Ghanaian educational institutions and the students support program of the Ghanaian government,� noted by the group. In their opinion, given the enviable track records of Dr Spio Gabrah, they are more than confident that President Mahama will soon invite him to occupy a position commensurate with his skills and experiences. �We believe failure to bring on board Dr. Spio-Garbrah and his kind would result in a leadership paralysis in the NDC government as some selfish and unscrupulous elements may seek to capitalize on the inexperience of some of our leaders, and the absence of such tried, tested and battle-ready men as Dr.Spio-Garbrah to mentor these young and inexperienced leaders, to feather their own nests - a situation that would prove inimical to the development of the nation and the fulfilment of the Better Ghana Agenda started by the Mills administration,� they added.