Gabriel Kwamigah Atokple, aka Chief Tanko, the Volta Regional Representative on the Council of State, has achieved a remarkable milestone by graduating with a PhD from Cavall International University, USA.
Reflecting on his journey, he expressed gratitude to God for a path that was both challenging and rewarding. Despite managing management duties, public engagements, and family responsibilities, he dedicated himself to his academic pursuit.
His doctoral research focused on “Public-Private Partnerships and Regional Infrastructure Development: An Empirical Study of the Volta Region in Ghana.” Inspired by his early career experiences working alongside the late P.V. Obeng on PPP projects, he uncovered that community involvement in such initiatives was often overlooked.
Motivated by these findings, Chief Tanko launched the VOLTA RISING project, aiming to foster global partnerships that promote inclusive development in his region. His story is one of resilience, dedication, and a deep commitment to uplifting his community, with a bright future now within reach.
Below is the full story on his Facebook wall:
I thank God for a journey truly worth the price, and I look forward to the future with great anticipation.
Two weeks ago, I had the honour of virtually joining colleagues from across the globe for my graduation ceremony from 𝐂𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐔𝐒𝐀, where I was awarded a 𝐏𝐡𝐃 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲.
It has been a grueling yet fulfilling period of academic pursuit, balanced with the demands of management responsibilities, public engagements, and husband duties.
For my doctoral thesis, I undertook an academic investigation titled “𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜-𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐀𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐭𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚.”
My choice of topic was informed by my past experiences as a young civil service worker, who had the opportunity to be part of a team led by the late P.V Obeng on Public-Private Partnership projects.
One of the key findings of my study revealed a significant underutilisation of community involvement in PPP projects.
On this basis, I have committed my time and resources to the VOLTA RISING project, an initiative through which I engage partners around the world in my own small way to help bridge this gap and enhance inclusive development in the region.
