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BEREKUM: “Augment govt efforts in employment generation” – Chairman Jerry

Francis Opoku Sarfo, Managing Director of Sarfpok Company Ltd, has challenged the well-endowed in society to endeavour to augment the Government's job creation agenda by putting in place pragmatic measures, such as setting up cottage industries, to generate massive employment for the teeming unemployed youth nationwide.

Date Created : 4/3/2018 7:55:24 AM : Story Author : Pius Agyemang/Ghanadistricts.com

Mr Sarfo, preferably called Chairman Jerry, Ghana’s Youngest Entrepreneur in 2012, who doubles as the immediate past Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Asutifi North Constituency, and an aspiring Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the party, suggests that creation of employment should be a shared responsibility, hence appealing to private individuals, philanthropists, corporate entities, and religious bodies to champion the crusade of employment creation for the betterment of the entire citizenry.

He threw the challenge in an interaction with ghanadistricts.com over the week, on the sidelines of a meeting held with delegates of the NPP in the Berekum East Constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region.

The meeting, which took him and his campaign team to other constituencies such as Berekum West (Jinijini); Dormaa East, West and Central – Wamfie, Nkrankwanta and Dormaa Ahenkro respectively in precision – formed part of his electioneering campaign tour to the electorates to seek their mandate to elect him as the regional chairman of the party, following the elevation of Mr. Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh, former Chairman, to the status of Regional Minister.

He used the occasion to sensitize the populace on the urgent need for them to join in the crusade of employment generation, since the repercussions of unemployment and its attendant crime wave were more perilous, disastrous and an affront to society.

Chairman Opoku Sarfo urged religious and political party leaders to share in the responsibilities of business tycoons, entrepreneurs and the government towards employment acquisition, whilst setting the pace as role models through their shining examples.

Model of Excellence: Leading Exemplary Life

Believing strongly in the President Akufo Addo's thematic areas of job creation, primarily contingent on Planting for Food and Jobs; 1- Village, 1- Dam; 1-District, 1-Factory agenda, geared towards relieving the youth to be gainfully employed, Hon. Francis Sarfo maintains he has already set the pace with his employment driven policy.

He statas categorically that he has employed more than 180 people, with apparently all of them on a salary scale, being paid through his construction firm, affiliated partly to the Newmont Ghana Limited, likewise that of the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) and his ultra-modern farms.

Chairman Jerry, as of now, possesses 780 acre cocoa farm, which yields approximately 500 bags of cocoa at a season, which also employs many a job seeker who does not toil without a wage.

Harnessing Corporate Social Responsibilities

As a soccer fan and financier, Mr Sarfo-Poku has been instrumental in sponsoring certain football clubs in the country, Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Aduana Stars inclusive.

The highly religious chairman has, equally, been rendering invaluable services to the Catholic Church and other religious bodies nationwide and beyond.

As part of his corporate social responsibilities, Chairman Jerry has been registering at least 450 children, the vulnerable and the aged to access the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) free of charge.

Besides, he sponsors almost 500 pupils and students at basic, secondary and tertiary levels.

Political Experience and Competence

Chairman Jerry (CJ) is not a mere entrepreneur of high repute but he is also a staunch politician, currently vying for the enviable position of the Brong-Ahafo Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

As Chairman on two consecutive terms for the same Party in the Asutifi North Constituency within the same region, he masterminded the successful return of the NPP to power after virtually a decade drought.

"We will strive diligently to retain Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in power come 2020, as we work assiduously to maximize votes and widen the gap in the Brong-Ahafo Region - maintaining the region’s status as the ultimate decider - whilst wresting the parliamentary seats of Hon. Eric Opoku and Alhaji Collins Dauda of the NDC in the Asunafo South and Asutifi South constituencies respectively, amongst others.

Honourable Francis Opoku Sarfo has served the same, Asutifi South, District Assembly as an Assembly Member for three (3) consecutive terms, discharging his responsibilities in various capacities in diverse ways.

He underscores the urgent need for the dear populace to elect him as the leader to steer the affairs of the party in the region for unity, solidarity, prosperity, love and affection because "the position is ably weighed and carried out by commitment, honesty, fund raiser, action, peace and tranquility".

Concise Fact File

Born at Ahafo-Kenyasi, in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana on August 2, 1968, Mr Opoku Sarfo, popularly called 'Chairman Jerry' by both his contemporaries and fans, started his basic education at the Roman Catholic (R.C.) Primary School and had his Middle School Living Certificate (MSLC) in the R.C. Middle School.

In his bid to pursue higher education to face life with zeal and alacrity, he enrolled in Mim Timber Technical School, where he obtained his vocation.

Mr Sarfo ventured into entrepreneurship at a bit tender age; no wonder, he carved a niche for himself when he was adjudged the Youngest National Entrepreneur of the Year in his prime young age.

Chairman Jerry set up his own construction firm soon after school and named it after his acronym sake, "Sarfpok Company Ltd", of which he remains the Managing Director.

He currently partners with the Newmont Ghana Gold Limited and the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA).

Behold, Ghana’s Youngest Entrepreneur, 2012!

Adjudged National Youngest Entrepreneur (2012) purely on meritorious grounds, Francis Opoku Sarfo, Managing Director of Sarfpok Company Limited and 2018 NPP Regional Chairman Hopeful reiterates:

"I'm born to bring smiles in the face of the citizenry; not to break the bending reed or quench the flickering lamp but to cause the afflicted to heave a deep sigh of relief."

SOUND ADVICE:

With his vast expertise in life as a veteran politician and entrepreneur; silent Philanthropist and financier of religious, political, and social organizations; Ghana's Youngest Entrepreneur of the Year (2012) has this sound warning and advice for both the rich and the youth in society:

"Members of society who are a bit endowed with resources ought to realize that the Good LORD made them rich in order to support the needy, hence, they should honour their obligations to render their invaluable services to the underprivileged – a wakeup call indeed!”

“To you, the youth, do not despise your youthful exuberance; neither remain sluggard and lazy nor sit on the fence; don't give way to inferiority complex. Never give the devil a beach head. Do not be overly sensitive. Be humble and explore avenues - for God will obviously make a way," Chairman Opoku Sarfo stressed.