Keep your eyes on the brighter side of life; Chieftaincy minister designate counsels

Ghana's Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs Minister designate, who is visually impaired, has called on Ghanaians to look at the brighter side of life in all their endeavours.

Dr. Henry Seidu Daanaa told the Parliament's Appointment Committee on Friday that his greatest motivation in life has been to defy all odds and greatest difficulties in life to achieve his dreams.

He was answering a question from the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Dr Daanaa said he was told the chieftaincy institution was too chaotic for a visually impaired person like him but with determination he has risen through the rungs and is poised to be the political head.

He lost his sight at the age of seven after a severe measles attack but that did not deter him from achieving his dreams, he said.

Not even the boisterous attempts by his loving father to send him to the farm instead of school stopped him from getting formal education.

He enrolled at the Wa school of the blind, then to Navrongo Secondary before getting his LLB at the University of Ghana and later called to the Bar.

He said he spent most of his working life at the Chieftaincy institution and had three accidents in his line of duty but still remained steadfast.

On the controversial issue about Chiefs dabbling in partisan political issues, Dr Daanaa said he as a minister will not approve of that behavior.

“It is not good for the chiefs to be on the stool and be doing politics,” he stated, adding the chief who is a head of a community will not be serving the interest of all if he decided to engage in partisan politics.

There are some people who will not share the same political ideals as that of the chief, he pointed out.

If approved, Dr Henry Seidu Daanaa will be the first physically challenged Minister of State in Ghana's history.