“To suggest that leaders do not enter the world with extraordinary endowment is to imply that people enter into the world with equal abilities, with equal talents” – Thomas Carlyle. The astute MP was born in Wa, in the upper west region with certain in born qualities such as self-confidence, creativity, charisma, problem solving skills and many more.
For about 3 decades since I came into contact with Dr Rashid Pelpuo, he has never had a grudge with anyone either young or old, in his social or political life. He has this patience and peace loving heart from birth which gave him a special position in the family that draws him closer to his elder brothers and fathers.
Charity they say begins at home. Dr Rashid Pelpuo started his transformational ideas as a young boy when he was still in middle school. He was able to build a public bath house for his family when their old one was in a bad shape. He molded the bricks himself and within some few days he was able to put up a completed bath house for his family.
Subsequent to that, when Dr Rashid Pelpuo had the opportunity to work as the District Coordinating Director of the National Youth Council, he did his work so deligently and within a scope of 2 years he was appointed as the acting Regional Director in 1990. Through this office, Dr Rashid Pelpuo was able to lobby for the establishment of Issa Youth Training Institute in his home region which today is located in Issa, the capital of DBI District. Before the establishment of this Institute, students across the northern belt of Ghana used to travel to the Southern part of the country for their education and skilled training these institutions offered. These are, the Afienye Youth Institute in the Greater Accra, the Takroasi Institute in the Eastern Region, the Asankare Youth Institute in the Ashanti Region and the Avenapome Youth leadership Training Institute in the Volta Region.
As a progressive who thinks that education should be the sine quo non to development, Dr Rashid Hassan Pelpuo personally mobilized his colleagues and organized free extra classes for middle school students before he even had the opportunity to serve in any leadership position. Also, he lobbied for the construction of Gudaayiri primary school block through the support of the Catholic Relief Agency and facilitated the construction of the Cheringu health center to serve Cheringu and its enclaves through the support of the Cannadia Embassy.
Till date the health center is still in existence and saving lives. Before these interventions, the people within this catchment area used to travel about 20km on a poor road to Wa township for their health and educational needs. And 31st Day Nursery school can’t be left out as far as Dr Rashid Hassan Pelpuo is concerned. He carried out these initiatives in the 1980s before he could think of becoming a Member Of Parliament.
Lastly, Dr Rashid Pelpuo mobilized the Youth of Jonga for the widening and clearing of the path linking their community to Wa. This is to make the road motorable and allow farmers to easily transport their goods from the farm to the market.
Yussif Naatasung
huseinyussifa@yahoo.com
