Draft:Mr. Napoleon D.K Kpoh

The Reverend Napoleon D.K. Kpoh affectionately called ‘Fo’ Napo on a Tuesday morning on the 3rd of March, 1952 at Have Domefe, Ghana announced his arrival into this world into the Odumankuma clan. His parents were Leonard Browson Kpo, a wise and noble man of Have Domefe and Madam Anna Aku Lumor, a virtuous woman of Anyako, both of blessed memory. He was later baptized into the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and confirmed into the church in 1970 in Accra New Town. (Born 3rd March, 1952 and Died on 13th June, 2023.)

Educational Background

Rev. Napoleon began his Primary Education at the Evangelical Presbyterian Primary School at Have in 1958 and completed the then Middle Form Four in 1968 with flying colors at Have. He later went he left for Accra to look for a job and to start life. In the process he gained MSLC, with Distinction at Kotobabi (1) middle school in 1970. in Accra. While working, he did correspondence Courses and attended evening classes to upgrade himself. By 1975, Rev. Napo had obtained his G.C.E ‘O’ level Certificate at Accra Workers College which is now known as the Accra city campus of the university of Ghana. Having set the basis for his educational ladder, he climbed it gradually and obtained Postgraduate Diploma in Public Administration from GIMPA,1989 after qualifying in 1988 with a Post Graduate certificate in Public Administration. In 2004, he obtained Executive Masters in Labour Policy Studies at the University of Cape Coast (U.C.C).

Other Courses

Rev. Kpoh attended several local and international Trade Union courses including Economic Globalization and Trade Union Development - International Labour Organization(ILO) Training Center, TURIN, ITALY 1997. Collective Agreement/contract Negotiations organised at the Ghana Labour College -1995, 1999,2000. Others include Leading and Managing Trade Unions, organised by UNI Global Union, Nylon, Switzerland, 2000, The Practice of Supervision, Communication skills and Interpersonal Relations, and Time Management at Management Development and productivity Institute, MDPI, Accra.

He believed in education and heavily invested his resources into the education of his children and many others. He encouraged you to get as much knowledge as you can, no matter your age. His own thirst for knowledge was exemplary. Being a man of many parts and always striving to attain a balanced life, he loved life. He enjoyed and admired nature greatly.

Christian Life

His life and belief systems were therefore, strongly influenced by the proverbial Presbyterian discipline which served him very well for the rest of his days. After his confirmation into the E.P. church in 1970, his appetite for Christian work developed. He joined the World-Wide Evangelical Healing Church (Charter) (WWEHC), Tema Branch in 1983 under the branch Head, Apostle now Archbishop Dr. Joel Debrah Grant, General Overseer of Christian Family International Ministry and Supervising Bishop of ten other churches, whose Head Pastors he trained. In 1983 - 1986 he was trained in Church Leadership and Pastoral Discipline by the late Bishop Elijah Dodoo and Archbishop Dr. Joel Debrah-Grant. He resigned and joined the Inner Life Healing Ministry(ILHM) as a founding member in 1986. He was also trained by the late Bishop Comfort Quaye (c-connie) and served as an Elder of the church, and a special advisor. He was elected as Chairman when it was proposed by the Bishop and Founder in 2000.

In her will made in April 2008, the Bishop appointed him as the Leader of the church. He served as chairman and Leader of the ILHM from November 2010 to November, 2013. He received six weeks Pastoral and Leadership training in June/July at the WWEHC (charter) Accra under the Supervision of chief Bishop S.T. Afutu. He was ordained as a pastor (under the given name Pastor Paul) by the Head Pastor, Rev. Michael Rex Tanor in June 10, 2012. He also attended four Annual Church Leadership and Pastoral Conferences at the Light House Chapel, Accra. He resigned from Inner Life Healing Ministry(ILHM) in November, 2015.

Rev. Napo executing his duties at church.

Rev. Napo joined the Royal Victory Family Church (RVFC), Kwabenya in August, 2016 and was appointed an Elder of the RVFC in early 2017. He was the Head and a member of the Administration and Disciplinary committee of the Church. He also held the position of Hope Family pastor in the last quarter of 2017. He was also appointed Usher Pastor in 2018, positions he held in the church until his demise.

Working Life: Trade Union Career

Rev. Napoleon D.K. Kpoh was a Public Administrator, Labour Relations Management Consultant, He was a Trade Unionist and an Industrial relations professional – he was an expect in his own right and a result- oriented individual who had no room for mediocrity. Rev. Kpoh’s professional career in the fields of endeavor span over thirty-five (35) years beginning with the appointment as a member of the 7-member Interim Management Committee of Ghana Cocoa Board in 1982. After 4 years of exemplary performance on the highest management body of the largest company then, Rev. Napo was appointed a member of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Cocoa Board in 1986. He served in that capacity also for 4 years between 1986 and 1989 and was elevated to the position of Supreme Chairman of the Cocoa Industry Workers’ Union

Rev. Kpoh was elected Deputy General Secretary (Adm) of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (I.C.U) in October 1989 and then the General Secretary (chief Executive Officer) of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union in 1991. He also served on the National Tripartite Committee from 1991 to 2007.

Rev. Kpoh was elected African Regional President of all the five (5) African Regional Trade Union organisations in the Private service sector from 1991-2007 and Rev. Kpoh trained several Industrial Relations Practitioners and management/Labour relations stakeholders in Ghana and Africa in the Trade Union Movement and various Companies. He also was appointed the Regional President for Africa of the Union Network International, 2007. In Labour Management consultancy, Rev. Kpoh registered as class ‘A’ Mediator/ Arbitrator at the National Labour Communication (NLC) since October 2018.

As a Labour Management Relations consultant, Mr. Kpoh had the following as his clients among others:

• Sunon Asogli Power Ghana Limited, Kpone
• Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra
• Reinbee Group of Companies, Accra
• Glahco group of Companies, Accra
• African Sun Amber, Hotels, Accra
• Fiesta Royal Hotel, Accra
• Aluworks Ghana Ltd, Tema
• Private Individuals.

Rev. Kpoh was appointed as a consultant to the five-member Prof. Edu Buandoh Presidential Committee on Emoluments for Article 71 Office Holders in Ghana in March 2016. The committee, which was tasked with reviewing and recommending appropriate emoluments for public office holders under Article 71 of the Constitution of Ghana, appointed Kpoh and others to provide expertise and guidance on the issue.

President John Dramani Mahama has in accordance with Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution, and acting on the advice of the Council of State, appointed a five member Presidential Committee to determine the salaries of Article 71 Office Holders. Of which Mr. Napoleon kpoh, former Trade Unionist was the consultant.

Membership of Boards of Directors

Rev. Napoleon D. K. Kpoh served as a Board member on the Boards of the following Organizations:

• Ghana Cocoa Board; 1982-1990.
• Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) 1998-2007.
• ALUWORKS; 2002-2011
• Accra Brewery Ltd; 2005-2008.
• Presidential Special Initiative (PS1) Advisory Board on Textiles and Garment; 2001-2006)
• Ghana Processing Company; 1982-1990
• New Times Corporation; 1998-2003
• Wahome Steel Ltd; 1999-2002.

International Awards

Rev. Kpoh was a self-made man who won recognition locally and internationally for his experience and expertise in his chosen profession. He won national and international Awards in The West African Nobles Forum (WANF) International Award, 2006, which won him the title NOBLE WANF which is an organisation of a group of eminent West Africans resolved to honouring West Africans who have excelled in their various chosen fields of endeavor and have contributed immensely to the economic growth in the sub-region. Rev. Kpoh was also honoured with an Honorary Degree of AMBA (Advanced Mastery of Business Administration), Human Resource Development Division, by the Cambridge International College, U.K. Rev. Kpoh became the fifth person in the last Decade of the college's 70 years history to win the award. Previous recipients across the globe include distinguished educational Professors, Ministers of Higher Education and a Vice President. Noble Kpoh thus won another first, being the First Trade Unionist ever to win the award worldwide.

Membership of International Bodies

• World Executive Board, Union Network International (UNI) Nyon- Switzerland; 1993-2007.
• World Executive Committee, UNI, Professional and Managerial Staff Union; Nyon, Switzerland, 1994-2007.
• World Executive Committee, International Metal Workers Federation (IMF) Geneva -Switzerland, 1994-2007.
• World Executive Board, International Union of Food and Agriculture (UF) Geneva-Switzerland, 1992-2003.
• World Executive Committee, International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation (ICEM) Brussels Belgium 1992-1997
• World Executive Committee, International Committee Chemical, Energy and Allied Workers Federation (ICEM) Brussels Belgium) 1992-1998.

International Conferences

Rev. Kpoh was a member of the 64 member Ghana delegation that attended an international conference on ‘Reshaping Ghana’s Economy’ organised by SIGMA ONE in North Carolina in 1997. He also participated in several other high profile, local and international Conferences where he interacted with high profile personalities and state men including Chancellor Gerhard Schröder of Germany, Poul Oluf Nyrup Rasmussen, Former Prime Minister of Denmark, Nelson Mandela of South Africa, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Edward Kennedy of the U.S.A.

Mr. Napoleon at a conference

He also served on a panel discussion with Prof. Stigler of the World Bank in 2005. He participated in Several I.L.O conferences in Geneva, Switzerland and served on several sectorial committees. In 2006, he attended a workshop on conflict "Prevention and Resolution in Africa", in Nairobi,,Kenya. As Africa Regional President for the five (5) International Trade Union organizations, Rev. Kpoh led several delegations to find solutions to many conflicts and industrial disputes on the African Continent and many parts of the world including Ghana, Zambia, Guinea, Chile, Switzerland, Argentina, United States and Nigeria to mention just a few.