A 232-page book, titled: “Our Motherland-My Life,†written by Mr Kojo Yankah, a former Minister of State, has been launched in Accra to provide useful life lessons for all Ghanaians and pan-Africanists.
 The book chronicled Mr Yankah’s life journey and provided graphic detail of his life as a Public Servant, Minister of State, Member of Parliament and Editor, as well as his family relations, entrepreneurship, charity work and travels round the world.
 It also gives vivid accounts of the author’s life principles, deep ills of the Ghanaian society and lessons that should be learnt by both the younger and the older generations to engender national development.
 A quote from the book read: “My life journey has been daunting, challenging, rough, tough, critical, unmarked and unscripted, but I have overcome all odds to inspire my children and make a difference in the lives of many others and I can only share slides of this in this book with a smileâ€.
 Mrs Emma Mitchell, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mitchell Foundation and a former Minister of Trade and Industry, at the launch at the African University College of Communications, said the author had a compelling story and many life lessons that must be learnt by all and sundry .
 “I do not know one Ghanaian, or for that matter any person, who will not benefit from reading this book and having it in their homes or libraries,†she said.
 “I have learnt so much from this book, which makes it compelling for me to recommend it to my children, grandchildren and other relations.â€
 “All parents have their own stories, but I know that education never ends with age. There is so much to know about Ghana and Africa through the pages of this book-the history, the customs and values of our people, which we are rejecting by the day.â€
 Mrs Mitchell urged all public servants, entrepreneurs, parents, teachers and students at all levels and pan-Africanists to possess copies of the book.
 She said: “Possessing this book will not only be reading Kojo Yankah; like me, you will all learn lessons we have glossed over and taken for granted.
 “You will be left reflecting on the future of our beloved country and the continent; and above all, you will be inspired by an unforgettable message of faith, hope and loveâ€.
 Mr. Yankah, in an address, recounted some joyful and sorrowful moments in his over 70-year life as a public servant, teacher, politician, journalist, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
 He noted: “Throughout all these years, I saw raw politics at work in both military and civilian environments, I became victim of several plots for reasons I later understood. I suffered humiliation and intrigues at the hands of unseen forces in politicsâ€.
 Mr. Yankah said by the grace of God, he endured those difficult periods in view of the key societal values his parents imbibed in him including honesty, fear of God, respect and humility.
 Nana Ayebia Clarke, of the Ayebia Clarke Publishing, Publisher of the book, described Mr. Yankah as a visionary and a true pan-Africanist who believed in the African potentials and intrinsic transformational values of the African heritage.
 She said the book contained inspirational quotations from some prominent Ghanaians, including Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the King of Ashanti Kingdom, Professor Ama Ata Aidoo, a prolific Ghanaian Writer, Sir Sam Jonah, an accomplished Entrepreneur, and Mr Mohammed Ibn Chambers, an International Diplomat.
 The author was born on the 16th of August, 1945, at Agona Duakwa in the Agona East District of the Central Region to Mr Kojo Kumi Yankah and Obaapanyin Yaa Nyarkoa.
 He attended Adisadel College in Cape Coast for his secondary education and proceeded to the University of Ghana where he graduated with a Bachelor of Art Degree in English.
 He worked with various state institutions including the Information Services Department and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust.
He was a former Editor of the Daily Graphic and later became the Director of the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
 The author also served as a Deputy Information Minister as well as a Regional Minister for the Central and Ashanti regions respectively from 1997 to 1999 in President Jerry John Rawlings’ Government.
 He was elected to Parliament as a Member of Parliament for Agona East on two consecutive terms from 1993 to 2000, and established the African University College of Communications (AUCC) and a Public Relations and Communication Firm, Yankah and AssociAssociate
The book launch attracted high profile personalities including current and former ministers of state, traditional rulers, the diplomatic community, captains of industries and the media.
 The first two copies of the book were purchased at GH¢25,000.00 each, by Mr Apashie Gyakpasu and Mr Mawuli Hedo.
 Some corporate institutions also made purchases including the Ghana Institute of Journalism, the AUCC and the Stanbic Bank.
GNA