Star youth performers in Mahama’s administration

Cassiel Ato Forson: Model of a Youthful Deputy Minister

Cassiel Ato Forson is currently a Deputy Minister for Finance. He is one of Public Agenda's star youth performers in the President John Mahama's administration. Although many political watchers and commentators do write-off the youths holding ministerial positions as not up to scratch, in Public Agenda's judgment Hon Forson is “a pebble by the seashore”.

Hon Forson exudes many of the virtues right thinking members of society want to identify with. He is dignified and circumspect about his choice of words anytime he is speaking to an issue, and argues out his facts in a cogent and coherent manner.

He provides facts and figures to justify his submissions and even when provoked by his critics, he does not respond in the same measure, a clear departure from the abrasive style of many youths holding ministerial positions.

Hon Forson is almost always on top of issues, and ever to clarify issues when the situations demands to do so. And whenever he misses a point he quickly, without hesitation, admits it and moves on.

Hon Forson has been a Member of Parliament for the Ajumako Enyan Essiam Consistency in the Central Region since 2009.

He served as an active member of the Finance Committee of Parliament where he demonstrated immense experience and insight into Public Finance and Economic policy issues. He also served as the Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House.

He served on the Committee on Poverty Reduction Strategy; Committee on Education as well as the Standing Orders Committee of Parliament.

Ato Forson holds a BSc (Hons) Accounting Degree from the London South Bank University and a finalist of the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (UK). In his role as a Member of Parliament, Forson contributed to the enforcement of the constitutional obligation over the use of public funds and the operations of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He is a highly accomplished and result-driven accountant, entrepreneur and a law maker with more than 10 years working experience in private, corporate and the public sector.

He worked as the Managing Director for Forson Contracts (UK) Limited and as a Chief Executive Officer for Concepts On-Line Ghana Limited.

He founded and managed Concepts-Online Ghana Limited, a web based vehicle tracking and fleet management company. He is also the founder and Board Chairman of OMEGA Africa Holdings Limited, an investment and oil & gas Group Company established since 2004.

Ato Forson was born on August 5, 1978 at Sekondi, Ajumako-Besease in the Western Region.

He is an accountant by profession and very Proficient in Microsoft Office Suites & Sage and quick Books. He is a product of the London South Bank University, Emile Wolf College, London, Institute of Professional Studies and Besease Secondary School, among others.

We call on other youthful ministers in government to emulate the worthy example of Hon Ato Forson.

Dr Edward Omane Boamah: The Rising Star Minister

The exploits of Dr Edward Omane Boamah, currently Minister for Communications, could not have escaped the prying lenses on Public Agenda when it comes to delivery.

Dr Omane Boamah is very focused Minister whose intellectual capacity and analytical mind have never been doubt. He readily employs these cognitive attributes in his critical analyses and discourses, and no wonder have translated same into his work as a Minister.

One of his distinguishing hallmarks is hard work, and was once quoted as saying that “hard work they say breaks no bone. As youth, you cannot achieve your dreams if you cultivate the habit of laziness. Let us work hard towards realizing our future dreams and we shall surely be paid for our hard work.”

Dr Omane Boamah's elevation from a Deputy Minister of Environment to Minister of Communications within a relatively short period was testament to his hard and diligent work. Last year, the chiefs and people of Koforidua-Effiduase in the Eastern Region also honoured Dr Boamah for his immense contributions to the development of the area as well as the honour he has brought Effiduase through his enviable public life and conduct.

Dr Boamah and his wife, Rita Omane Boamah, were decorated with colourful Kente cloth and traditional sandals, 'Ahenema', to signify the appreciation and gratitude of the chiefs and people of Koforidua-Effiduase.

The chief of Effiduase, Okoawia Dwumoh Baabu II, spoke of the Communications Minister in glowing terms. “We have monitored your progress since you were a child and we are not surprised at all by the progress you've made so far in achieving this feat. We are proud of you as an illustrious son of this town and we shall always hope for the best for you.” Thus Public Agenda's view is shared by many discerning Ghanaians.

Dr Omane Boamah is measured in his language and do not engage in name calling and use of incendiary language. Public Agenda considers him as a rising star who will go places if he does not deviate from this chosen path that has brought him thus far.

He was appointed in February 2013 by President John Mahama after the Ghanaian general election in December 2012. He is an alumnus of the Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary in Koforidua, Ghana and the University of Ghana Medical School, where he trained as a medical doctor.

Dzifa Gomashie: Deputy Minister to Watch Hon Abla Dzifa Gomashie has made waves in her rather short stay as a Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, following her appointment in 2013. Hon Gomashie had continued to excel in whatever she finds doing: as an actress, a student at Legon, CEO of Mama Dzifa's and currently as a Deputy Minister.

She has discharged her duties as assigned her by the substantive Minister, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare. She is loved by many in the creative and performing arts, many of whom were her contemporaries in acting.

Before her political appointment, Hon Gomashie was the producer of the popular story-telling-themed television series 'By the Fireside, which enjoyed relative success in the 90s, and was hosted by Grace Omaboe, also known as ‘Maame Dorkonoo’. She produced that programme for 11 years, from July 1992 – July 2003.

A down-to-earth and affable personality, she holds an Mphil, BFA, Theatre Arts, Gender Studies, from the University of Ghana, Legon. She did lots of performances before going to Legon to study.

She's held very important portfolios in the past; she was President of the Association of Students of Performing Arts, as well as a Board Member of the Ghana Blind Union Student Senator-Post Graduate, University of Ghana.

In 2013, an honorary Doctorate Degree was conferred on Hon Gomashie by the International Institute for Governance and Development, in collaboration with the Global Center for Transformational Leadership in South Africa.

The award was in recognition to her exemplary leadership and contribution in promotion, sustenance and improvement of the arts and culture across Africa.

The citation presented her says; “For your immense contribution to the arts, for positively enhancing creative arts, for your selfless and unwavering dedication to the promotion of arts and culture, the organization proudly awards you an award for Exemplary Leadership.”

An astute arts doyen, theatre icon, and actress, Hon Goamshie has dedicated her life to promoting and making the creative arts industry in the country a more attractive one through constant interaction with industry and mentoring young ones.

She also wears another cap as Queen-mother, Maama Dzramedo I, of Aflao Traditional Area in charge of protocol.

Delighted but humbled for the award, Dzifa Gomashie.

Hon Gomashie is highly civic and decorous in her dealings with people and has a very promising future.