Sunyani Residents Want Dr. Bobi Barimah For MCE Job

Listen to this article Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Following the nomination and subsequent approval of the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Justina Owusu-Banahene, as the Bono Regional Minister, some names have been popping up as possible replacements for the vacancy that has been created.

The two main front-runners for the position are Dr. Kofi Bobi Barimah, the Acting Chief Executive Director of the Centre for Plant Medicine Research and Mr. Ansu Kumi, a teacher and a party functionary.

Discussions on which of the two would eventually assume the position have been dominating arguments about the issue in Sunyani, especially on WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms.

Residents Verdict

Most residents, according to our investigations, appear to be in support of Dr. Kofi Bobi Barimah, owing to his rich managerial skills, his demonstrable competence and impeccable track records in various fields of endeavor.

They are of the view that considering the fact that Sunyani Municipality is currently faced with multiple socio- economic challenges, there is the need for an experienced and skilled multi-talented individual who can combine both theoretical and practical community development strategies to empower the grassroots, foot-soldiers and community members.

They are of the firm believe that an experienced Researcher, Lecturer, Psychologist, Health Promoter, Manager, Fundraiser, Youth employment counsellor, Leader and International Community Development expert, Dr. Bobi Barimah could rise to the challenge and push the development agenda of the Bono Regional capital further forward.

Sam Annan, a resident of Sunyani, for instance, believes that Dr. Kofi Bobi Barimah deserves to be nominated as M C E for Sunyani because he has nurtured the constituency since 2004 when he relocated to Ghana, having served as 2nd vice chairman of NPP of Toronto, Canada.

He recollects that Dr. Bobi Barimah has been a Patron and financier of the NPP, especially the Sunyani East constituency since 2004 “when party’s office was housed at the late Mr. Mfum’s storey building, opposite the current office.”

“As chief patron and patron respectively from 2004 to 2020, you were the one who changed the decapitated wooden door of the then office to metallic, you also donated a computer and its accessories to the office. You did all these in 2004”, Mr. Sam Annan further added.

Dr. Bobi Barimah has served in various capacities in the NPP both in Ghana and outside the country.

“In all these endeavors, he served with commitment, determination, dedication backed by understanding of relevant socio-economic issues. I strongly recommend such an individual for the vacant position of MCE of Sunyani Municipal”, another leading figure of the NPP said.

He stated that the next MCE for Sunyani must understand the operations of the Regional wing of the party and that Dr. Kofi Bobi Barimah is the best person who fits into the position at this material moment he, at various points in time, was a Member of the Regional Campaign Team, Chairman of the party’s Finance Committee and Chairman of the Fundraising Committee.

Dr. Kofi Bobi Barimah was also the Chairman of the NPP Regional Disciplinary Committee.

Education

He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, 1998- 2003, Master of Science (MSc) in Rural Extension Studies, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada, 1993-1994, another Master’s degree in Psychology from the Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada, 1991-1993 and a degree in Psychology from the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, 1981-1985.

Career

Dr. Kofi Bobi Barimah was the Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Public Health & Allied Sciences at the Catholic University College of Ghana-Fiapre where he also served as its Dean from 2007-2013. He also served as the first Director of the Night School (now Weekend School).

He is currently the Acting Executive Director of the Centre for Plant Medicine Research, Mampong Akwapim. Prior to this, he has been the Director of Research & Consultancy at the Ghana Technology University College for four years. Dr. Barimah served as Co-ordinator of the Centre for Health Systems & Policy Research (CHESPOR) at GIMPA when he was appointed as a Visiting Lecturer during the 2014-2015 Academic year.

Before relocating to Ghana in 2003, Dr. Barimah had over 12 years’ experience in Health Promotion and community development in the non-profit sector both at the managerial and grassroots levels in Canada. He was the Research & Profile Development Manager at the Ontario Association of Youth Employment Centers, Toronto, Canada.

He served as the Acting Executive Director of the Jane-Finch Concerned Citizens Organization; Centre Manager of the Rapport Youth Centre, Brampton, as well as a Course Instructor at Ryerson Polytechnic, Toronto. He is currently a Contract Academic Staff at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada and teaches Health and Psychology related courses.

In November 2018, Dr. Barimah received an award for PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE from the Ghanaian News in Canada and received a citation from the House of Commons (Canadian Parliament). He is also the recipient of the 2002 YMCA Peace Medallion Award, Brampton, Canada.