O B Amoah: a true party man

Politics in Ghana has gone beyond the fringes of mediocrity and therefore heart-centered leaders who have discovered their destiny and purpose in life and who are committed to changing the lot of their people in a positive manner are needed.

Such a personality in Ghana's politics today is Osei Bonsu Amoah, popularly known as O B Amoah, who is vying for the parliamentary candidacy of the Aburi-Nsawam constituency of the New Patriotic Party.

If the Biblical adage "know thyself", which is the foundation of authentic leadership, is anything to go by, then O B Amoah having served in the NPP since 1992 has the experience, exposure and know-how to lead the Aburi-Nsawam Constituency to great achievement and development.

O B Amoah is a 46-year-old lawyer, married with three children. He started his primary education in Kumasi and Obuasi. He attended Prempeh College and proceeded to the University of Ghana. He later attended the Ghana Law School.

Being a true party man, O B Amoah has served the party in many capacities, including being a member and chairman of the NPP Youth Wing fundraising committee, a member of the legal and constitutional committee, and member of the public relations and information management committee. During the 2004 general elections, he was a member of the intelligence, manifesto, campaign and evaluation committees.

In government, he was a key member in the management of the Office of the Vice President between 2001 and 2004. He achieved great laurels for Ghana's sports as a Deputy Minister of Sports. These include, winning of silver and bronze medals by Ghana for the first time at the World Athletics Championships in August, 2005. T

he same year saw the Starlets wining a silver medal in the African Youth Football tournament in Gambia and qualifying to the FIFA World Cup tournament in Peru after numerous unsuccessful attempts. The qualification of the Black Stars for the first time in October, 2005 and the participation of the team in June 2006, in Germany was by far the best thing that ever happened to Ghana football.

The construction of four stadia and fifteen training centres as well as other major facilities across the country between 2006 and 2007 was during his tenure of office.

As a Deputy Minister he played a key role in the drafting of a new Sports Bill to replace the 32 year old Sports Decree and to provide how the sports sector should be safe, regulated, organised, financed, sponsored, and incorporated into today's multi-billion dollar global sports.

The successful hosting of the 26th MTN African Cup of Nations in Ghana between January 20 and February 10, which has been described as experts as one of the best organised tournaments in Africa, and Ghana's continued good showing in the FIFA rankings have been attributed to his effective leadership.

Believing in the adage actions speak louder than words, O B Amoah has not only shown effective leadership traits towards his constituency but has provided medical services, provided sports equipments to various zones and also farming inputs to party officers for communities within his constituency. He has established keep fit clubs in various zones and organised zonal sporting competitions for them in the constituency.

A true party man to the core, he has established an Outreach, Business and Empowerment Scheme to provide funds and resources for party followers, furnished the Aburi-Nsawam constituency NPP office, provided allowances for party officers and also equipped polling stations for effective electioneering in the constituency.

He is also facilitating arrangements to provide micro-finance for party women, scholarships for needy students, construction of educational institutions in the constituency and the provision of ICT centres in schools.

Stating his vision for the party at the grassroots level, O B Amoah said his first task at the constituency is to maintain effective relationships with party members and leaders, opinion leaders, traditional rulers, political appointees and party foot soldiers.

Secondly, he said he will ensure the growth and development of the party, the constituency and district. According to O B Amoah, "this is the leadership I offer which will achieve the objective of a happy, successful party working together and united."

He pointed out the need to increase the popularity of the party in the constituency and the nation in order to maximise electoral votes to retain power, noting, "this will require motivation and empowerment of the party loyalists."

Mr Amoah is slated to face the party's vetting committee in Koforidua today.

By slarge