The Savannah Regional Minister-Designate, Saeed Muhazu Jibril comes to the table with loads of leadership qualities and experience

In January 2021, the various mass media- the various newspapers, television stations, radio stations, and social media were inundated with the lists of ministerial appointments made by the president of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo.

Among the lists was that of Mr. Saeed Muaz Jibril, the current Municipal Chief Executive of the West Gonja Municipal Assembly who has been appointed by the president to man the affairs of the Savannah region as its regional minister.

Suffice me to say that before his appointment several others who are equally qualified as him also sought to occupy that position but the president has decided to throw the onus on him. Congratulations to him and better luck next time to the others who could not make.

Verily, he has got a big job to do. He is going to be in charge of about a population of 578,235 occupying a land area of 37,582 square kilometers. For the challenges and problems facing this two(2) years old region, I need not remind readers about them. But I am of the firm believe that we will surely triumphant.

What leadership skills qualities and experiences does the regional minister-designate comes to the table with? I believe those who have lived under his regime in whatever capacity he served them as a leader have begun writing down the notes.

That is, former students of Ndewura Jakpa Senior High/ Technical School, Teachers of the same school who worked with him as a colleague subject teacher, senior housemate and the assistant headmaster academic will attest to his democratic principles in leadership.

The electorates of Langbonto/ Zongo electoral area whom he served as their assembly member from can speak volumes of how approachable he is. And the residents of the West Gonja Municipality can give testimonies to his aggressiveness in pursuing development and that he is one who will stop at nothing to ensure the betterment and forward match of the people he has sworn an oath to see to their betterment.

Indubitably, he comes to the table with tonnes of leadership experiences. By leadership experiences, I mean he has occupied several leadership positions that has furnished him with lots of experiences. In the political line, he has served the New Patriotic Party in several leadership capacities. He was the Damongo- Daboya constituency youth organiser( 1996-2000), financial secretary( 2000- 2004), and Secretary( 2005-2009). He was also a member of the Northern regional research team(2000-2008) of the New Patriotic Party( NPP).

He has been a Northern regional/ Zonal Cordinator for president Nana Akuffo Addo's campaign team for presidential primaries(2007- 2014) and constituency campaign manager of the party in the 2008 elections. He was also an assembly member of the then West Gonja district assembly between 2000 and 2009.

He was first appointed and on the second occasion, he was elected for the Langbonto/ Zongo electoral area. And he topped up all these portfolios with the appointment as the Municipal Chief Executive of the West Gonja Municipal Assembly in the first phase of Nana Addo's government. In his twenty-four years as a professional teacher under Ghana Education Service ( GES), he has held various leadership roles in the area of a form master, housemaster, senior housemaster, sportsmaster and assistant headmaster( academic).

It is worthy here to note that these positions he held in both his political and professional line of duty has bathed him with numerous experiences and skills that will aid him as a regional minister. That is, holding such positions, he has seen and witness the good, bad and ugly sides of human. Without a dot of doubt, both strata of leadership( politics and profession) makes him agile to handle both partisan and non partisan issues as a regional minister.

For sure, one essential quality of an effective leader that is part and parcel of him is how approachable and open he is to all manner of persons despite their gender, geographical location, religion and political affiliation. Everyone who has worked under him or with him can attest to the fact that he is not one of those who is cloaked with power that he becomes bossy and distance himself from the very people he is to serve.

Rather, he puts his people first, gives them a listening ear, connects with them, and creates both professional and personal relationships with his subordinates and colleagues. Admittedly, if you hate him for any reason, you will definitely like him for how simple, open and approachable he is to every human being.

That notwithstanding, he is one who cannot be taken for granted on that accord. He will never hide his feelings when things are going wayward or harbour any beef with anybody. He is noted for being straightforward and blunt in expressing his feelings. Whereas a few people see this as a weakness, many see it as a plus to his character. Those who see it as a positive trait argues that after bluntly pointing to a person, his or her wrongdoing, he is relieved and no longer holds any grudge against that person.

The venerable and workaholic Mr. Saeed Muaz Jibril faced the vetting committee of Ghana's eighth parliament on 4th March, 2021. It is my fervent prayer that he is approved so that as usual of him he stride development for the Savannah region.