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Regional News of Tuesday, 4 March 2014

Source: Gordon Asare Bediako

Sylvester Mensah's In the Shadows of Politics gets 4-star rating

“In the Shadows of Politics: Reflections from My Mirror,” an autobiography and memoir of current National Health Insurance Authority boss, Mr. Sylvester Mensah, has received a 4-star rating from the prestigious Foreword Reviews after the body reviewed the book.

Foreword Reviews is a leading global firm which specializes in reviewing books; for 15 years, the body has been relied on by thousands of librarians and booksellers for excellent book reviews. It rates books from one to five stars in excellence with five being the highest rating.

In awarding “In the Shadow of Politics: Reflections from My Mirror” a 4 –star rating, Robin Farell Edmunds who did the review stated - “From a childhood in Ghana through a career devoted to African politics, this memoir blends humor and rich detail to introduce a unique perspective on civic duty.

In the Shadows of Politics is a deeply personal and uniquely voiced story. Sylvester Mensah reflects on his life in and out of politics, his journey often paralleling the struggles in his native Ghana over the past fifty years.

Rich with personal details about his childhood—he and his brothers had a total of eighteen half-siblings—and schooling, this book traces Mensah’s entry into politics while still a young student, influenced deeply by his father’s service to the country’s first president. Mensah speaks candidly and earnestly about events, which cultivates the feeling of listening to a close friend.”

Mr. Mensah who is a former Member of Parliament and has served as a Public Official in various capacities had his book published by AuthorHouse Publishing late last year and has seen the book already receive rave reviews globally with the latest being the review by Foreword Reviews.

Foreword described the book among others as “Rich with personal details about his childhood”; candid and earnest about events, which cultivates the feeling of listening to a close friend; and recommends it for all who are interested in politics or history.

“Mensah writes with a sense of humor about his father’s three-year stretch of unemployment: “In short, the ‘luxury’ of having three meals a day was reviewed, and the new order was that we ate twice a day, and even then, only if we were hungry.”??For those interested in politics or history, this is a good introduction to one man’s story about his life, family, faith, and country over the past fifty years. Some of his comments appear geared toward his fellow countrymen when he lambastes the younger generation for brushing aside those who came before, chiding them for falling into “historical illiteracy.” But it appears to be good advice for anyone: “Ignorance of your past lessens your understanding and appreciation of the present, which in turn prevents you from charting clear paths into the future.”