A committed member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has disclosed that his love for Ghana motivated him to forgo a well-paid position at an international organization, opting instead to serve the country for a significantly reduced salary.
During an interview on TV3’s Hot Issues program on Sunday, January 21, Spio-Garbrah shared insights into his decision to take a substantial pay cut when accepting a ministerial role in Ghana.
Despite earning $10,000 per month at the Africa Development Bank, he chose to receive a monthly salary of only $500 as a government minister.
Reflecting on his choices, Spio-Garbrah posed the question, “Will you accept to leave a $10,000 salary at Africa Development Bank to take a $500 a month as a minister? There have been opportunities I have lost because of my passion and dedication to my country and continent.”
He served as Minister for Trade and Industry from 2014 to 2017 in the Mahama administration and has previously held ministerial roles in the Rawlings administration, including Minister of Communications, Minister of Education, and Acting Minister of Mines & Energy.
Spio-Garbrah also has a history of diplomatic service, having served as Ghana’s ambassador to the United States and Mexico.