2008 - 2012 (HON. SAMUEL SARPONG)

PROFILE OF HON. SAMUEL SARPONG

Born on 10th November, 1957 at Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, Hon. Samuel Sarpong hails from Juabeng, one of the predominantly farming communities in Ashanti region. He is the 1st born of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Agnes Kwabena Mensah Sarpong, who were both classroom teachers. He began his childhood education at the age of seven at Owabi L/A Primary School in Ashanti before gaining admission into Osei Tutu Senior Secondary School in 1973. He obtained his GCE O level Certificate in 1978 and upon completion he pursued a three year Teacher Training education at Wesley College in Kumasi. Having been trained as a teacher, Hon. Samuel Sarpong taught as a sports teacher at Juabeng Secondary School between 1981 and 1984.

He subsequently went further to work with the Serious Fraud Office, Kumasi and rose to become the Zonal Head of SFO in Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions. As he performed his duties with diligence and dedication he later became a panel member of the Ashanti Regional Investigative Committee from 1985 to 1990 and subsequently became a chairman of that committee between 1990 and 1992. As part of his ambition to fulfill his academic goals, Hon. Sarpong also decided to pursue a Diploma course in criminology at Bulgaria from 1992 to 1996. This exposed him to wide range of issues relating to investigations and the general knowledge in gathering information on criminal issues.

Coming from a modest family background where both of his presents were teachers, Hon. Sarpong appears to have developed a strong zeal and commitment in climbing high to the academic ladder. This saw the Mayor combining his work and classroom learning as he got enrolled into Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) where he pursued a Masters Programme in Leadership and Governance in 2007.

During his working career, Hon. Sarpong became a Security Co-ordinator of the National Sports Council in Ashanti Region from 1997 to 2001. His appointment to this position became imperative in view of the need to strengthen security network at the regions sports environment. Having gathered enough experience coupled with his avowed interest in sporting activities, Hon. Sarpong became a member and chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, a group that took charge of security for the CAN 2000 cup of nations. Kumasi Stadium was adjuged the most friendly stadia in Africa in CAN 2008.

To add to both his academic and working experience, the Mayor took part in a course in Employee Performance Appraisal in Accra in 1990 and in July 2000 he went to Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration for a seminar on project Monitoring, Evaluation and Sustainability.

During the year 2001 he undertook a special course on presentation skills by Crown Agent of the United Kingdom at GIMPA. To make the Mayor more effective in handling issues relating to democracy and governance, Hon. Sarpong participated in a ministerial course on Global Governance in South Africa in 2008. Hon. Samuel Sarpong is currently married to Hannah Akua Achiaa with whom they have five children, three boys and one girl.

Armed with these achievements in life, Mr. Sarpong's working life received a major boost when he was handed down an appointment by the President, His Excellency Prof. John Evans Atta Mills as the Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.