South African President Thabo Mbeki has appointed Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a former Communications and Education Minister of Ghana unto the board of South Africa Telekom (SA Telekom). The appointment was announced by South Africa Telekom and South Africa's Communications Minister on 20 September pursuant to a decision by the South African Cabinet chaired by President Thabo Mbeki. Currently CEO of the London based Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization (CTO), Dr Spio-Garbrah was appointed for a three year-term together with Dr Victor Lawrence (a Ghanaian based in America), Ms Reitumetse Jackie Huntley, a South African. The appointments are in compliance with paragraph 3.59 (a) of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s Listings Requirements and in accordance with Telkom's articles of association by the South African government (the Class A Shareholder of SA Telekom). Telkom is Africa's largest integrated communications company, providing integrated communications solutions to an entire range of customers. Telkom has a market value of about 103.4 billion rand ($14.4 billion). Reached by phone at his London office for a comment on the announcement, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah said he appreciated the vote of confidence of the South African government in him and hoped to discharge his new duties diligently. Bayijan Fuseini, a leading member of the Friends of Spio-Garbrah Diaspora organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania said: "We are really delighted to hear this news. Uncle Spio is a very accomplished citizen of Ghana, and it is good that he is being recognized not just in Ghana but also outside. Sometimes people who want to become our leaders are not well known outside before they assume office, so are not able to get us all the help that Ghana needs. Spio has shown that he can perform both in Ghana and anywhere." Fuseini also gave credit to President Thabo Mbeki for reaching out to competent Africans everywhere regardless of citizenship to help bring the African economic renaissance to fruition. Story credit: dailyEXPRESS/Friends of Spio-Garbrah in South Africa