KEEA NPP Parliamentary Candidate graduates with a PhD Degree in a top German University
By Francis Xavier Tuokuu

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for the 2012 elections in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) constituency in the Central Region, Nana Ato Arthur has defied all odds and successfully completed a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) at the Department of Political and Cultural Change, Centre for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn in Germany. The German Centre for Development Research is ranked among the first ten (10) of the Global Thirty Science and Technology Think Thanks and also place 15th of the Global Best University Affiliated Think Thanks. His research centered on; ‘The Unfinished Business of Decentralisation: Political Accountability of Local Government in Ghana. He defended same on the 28th June, 2012 and has since been conferred the prestigious doctorate title.
It is no mean achievement for any doctorate candidate to finish within the three (3) stipulated years of the programme but Nana Ato has accomplished that 3 months ahead of the schedule. This man deserves commendation especially as he intends to come back home and contribute to the development of his constituency and country as a whole instead of staying behind to seek greener pastures. As a former District Chief Executive (Mayor) and Regional Minister, Nana defied all the odds, humbled himself to be tutored and supervised through his studies. The one time Minister-turned-student, lived like all other students. Nana Ato Arthur demystified the opinions of the African politician.
Dr. Nana Ato Arthur hails from Elmina and had his Secondary Education at St. Augustine’s College. He had his B.Sc. (Eng) Degree in South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China. He returned to Ghana to pursue M.Sc. Degree in (Development Planning and Management) at KNUST, Kumasi. He also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in (Regional Planning and Management) from Universität Dortmund, Germany. Nana is as versatile as Shakespeare. He is an engineer turned development planner and now a politician.
He is an astute politician and well known to Ghanaians especially those from the Central Region. When the NPP assumed office in 2001, he was appointed District Chief Executive of KEEA from March 2001 to May 2005. Due to hard work and commitment to duty, he was elevated to the office of Deputy Central Regional Minister, from May 2005 to April 2006. Again, the hardworking Nana Ato Arthur was in May 2006 made the Central Regional Minister, a position he held till the NPP exited office in 2009.
Nana recently won the NPP Parliamentary primaries by popular acclamation to contest the 2012 elections in order to represent his people in the 3rd Parliament of the 4th Republic which will commence in January, 2013. At the time, Nana justified his candidature by enumerating several development projects he initiated first as the DCE and then as the Regional Minister. Among them scholarships and bursaries, payment of NHIS premiums and rehabilitation of some tourist sites in Elmina. Nana has vowed to capture the seat from the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament.
Dr. Nana Ato Arthur, congratulations and welcome back home.