Ekwow Spio-Garbrah

Ekwow Spio - Garbrah (* 1953 in Ghana) is Director-General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO ) in London and a leading Ghanaian politicians. Spio - Garbrah had after many years of experience in the diplomatic service for Ghana held various ministerial posts in the Government of Ghana under John Jerry Rawlings.

Training

Spio - Garbrah studied at the University of Ghana in Legon, a suburb of Accra, English literature and graduated at the age of 19 years with a BA ( Hons. ) from. Also at the University of Ghana, he studied journalism and communication and graduated with a diploma. At the University of Ohio, USA, he also holds a degree in International Affairs ( International Affairs ), from which he graduated with the master. At the University of New York, he took a certificate in International Banking ( International Banking ) and Finance (Finance).

Career in business

Spio - Garbrah worked among other things as a banker in the mortgage department in New Jersey, as the seller of Southwestern Bell and Head of the Middle East Africa Group in the international public relations firm Hill & Knowlton, New York.

Between 1988 and 1991, Spio - Garbrah worked in various positions at the International Finance Corporation in Washington, USA. Subsequently, he was "Head of Communications " in the African Development Bank before joining between 1991 and 1994 in the diplomatic service for Ghana. In Ghana Spio - Garbrah founded his own consulting firm ( Spio - Garbrah & Associates) and worked as a consultant to various business enterprises before he became in 2003 Director General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO ) in London.

Career as a politician

Spio - Garbrah was between 1994 and 1997 Ambassador of Ghana to the United States and Mexico. As ambassador to the U.S., he was instrumental in the development of the bilateral relations between the two countries. The work Spio - Garbrahs led to a state visit by President Bill Clinton in Ghana in 1998.

During the tenure of President Jerry Rawlings Spio - Garbrah had as a member of the Party National Democratic Congress (NDC ) held the line of various ministries. In 1997 and 1998 he was Minister of Communications ( Minister or Communications ). In this position he was responsible for the development of Internet, broadcasting and telecommunications in Ghana.

Subsequently, he became Minister of Education (Minister for Education ) from 1998 to 2001. It shall also was in 1999 Minister of Mines and Energy ( Minister for Mines & Energy). After the end of the reign of Rawlings and the formation of a government of the opposition under John Agyekum Kufuor Spio - Garbrah his private career went on, however, remained in his party NDC until today one of the leading opposition politicians in Ghana.

For the 2008 presidential election was Sipo Garbrah as one of the most promising candidate for the nomination of his party NDC in the elections. His candidacy was not without controversy.

Honors

In May 2001, Spio - Garbrah a doctorate in law ( Honoris Causa ) was honorary from Middlebury College in Vermont, USA, awarded for his earned in the field of education, communication and diplomacy.