Introduction

Richmond Kwarteng Nkuah is a young and ambitious Ghanaian who has demonstrated a passion for leadership and teaching over the years. Born in 1987 in Surano ‘A’ in the Bibiani Municipality and Paboase in Wiawso Municipality, Richmond has excelled in various leadership roles, both in his professional and personal life. This article explores his journey, highlighting his education, work experience, personal beliefs, and vision for youth leadership in Western North.

Education and Training

Mr. Kwarteng has an impressive educational background, with a Master of Educational Administration and Leadership from Valley View University (2020-2022), a Post Diploma in Basic Education from the University of Education, Winneba (2017-2019), and a Diploma in Basic Education from the University of Cape Coast (2012-2015). He also holds a West Africa Senior High Certificate Examination from Sefwi Bekwai Senior High (2005–2008) and a Basic Education Certificate Examination from Sefwi Bekwai Catholic Junior High (2003–2005).

Work Experience

Mr. Kwarteng has held various leadership positions in his professional life, including NIA District Registration Officer (DRO) for Asutifi North District in the Ahafo Region, where he currently works. He has also served as the NIA District Registration Officer for Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai during the mass and mop-up registration exercise from 2020–2021. As the Speaker of the Municipal Youth Parliament in Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai from 2020–2021, he demonstrated excellent leadership skills, which earned him the admiration and respect of his colleagues. Additionally, he has served as an Assemblymember for Surano Electoral Area from 2015–2019, where he played a critical role in ensuring good governance and service delivery in the area.

Several positions in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipal Assembly have also been held by him, including chairperson for the social services sub-committee and executive committee member from 2015–2019. In his role as Operations Manager for the scraps committee, Chirano Gold Mines, from 2015-2019, he excelled in his responsibilities, mobilising funds to run the activities of the committee and solving social and financial problems in members’ catchment communities.

Mr. Kwarteng has also worked as a subject teacher at Fahiakobo Anglican JHS, where he taught social studies from 2012 to 2022. In this role, he prepared termly schemes of work and lesson plans, as well as wall charts and flash charts to facilitate pupils’ learning. Furthermore, he served as the chairperson of the school discipline committee from 2016–2018, which contributed to two consecutive 100% performances in the BECE for the 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 examinations.

Personal beliefs and vision

Mr. Kwarteng’s personal beliefs and vision revolve around empowering and guiding future leaders. He strongly believes that a good leader trains leaders, not followers. He is committed to inspiring and guiding the youth in the region, encouraging them to have confidence, determination, self-discipline,

and a can-do spirit to achieve their goals. Richmond is an advocate for building youth leadership in the Western North, recognising the benefits of empowering young people to be leaders in their communities. He believes that youth leadership is critical for the region’s growth and development and calls on institutional bodies to prioritise youth leadership development.

He firmly believes that developing community leadership skills requires a comprehensive understanding of both the context in which leadership is practiced and the skills necessary to lead effectively. In particular, he emphasises the importance of recognising and empowering the values of youth in the Western North, which can serve as a catalyst for positive change in the region. He advocates for building youth leadership capacity from the community to the organisational level across the Western North, recognising the critical role that young leaders play in driving growth and change in the face of complex and evolving challenges. He also acknowledges that community leadership is a value-based pursuit, often requiring the collaboration of leaders with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to address pressing social and regional issues.

Career Inspiration

Richmond Nkuah Kwarteng is an exceptional leader who has excelled in various leadership roles. His commitment to empowering and guiding future leaders is a testament to his passion for leadership and his belief in the powerment of youth leadership. As he continues to inspire and guide young people in the Western North, his legacy will be felt for generations to come.