We are very excited to welcome Francis Xavier Tuokuu. He lives in Ghana and will be helping us bring Ghanaian news and issues right here. Of course, he will also be writing about global events. Francis is an eminently talented young man as you can read from his profile below. He has his debut piece this morning. Hope you enjoyed it!
Francis Xavier Tuokuu is a prolific young Ghanaian writer who has over twenty published articles and over two hundred daily news/reports and stories on various websites, newspapers and magazines across the world including myjoyonline.com, ghanaweb.com, ghananewslink.com, The Alhaj Newspaper, AllAfrica.com, “The Good Shepherd Newspaper”, “The Development Analyst Magazine” based in East Africa, The Chronicle Newspaper, inter alia.
He started his basic education at Jilo Primary School, Bimbila in the Northern Region and continued from St. Anthony’s Model Primary, Jirapa in the Upper West Region. Thence, he moved to St. Augustine’s J.H.S, Jirapa where he finished in 2000.
Francis sat for the St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary Entrance Examinations and was admitted into the school after passing the exams and an interview. He graduated in 2003. After his secondary education, he proceeded to the University of Ghana where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and Resource Development with a minor in Philosophy. He also has a Certificate of Attendance in International Water Management from the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. He was a Research Assistant at the Centre for Migration Studies, University of Ghana, Legon from September 2008 to September, 2010. He assisted in various research projects and attended many workshops and conferences both home and abroad.
He began his career in journalism with Ghananewslink in October, 2010 as a Senior Reporter/Acting Editor. He was the West African Correspondent writer of “The Development Analyst Magazine” from August, 2009 to January, 2011 and columnist to many media houses some of which are listed above.
Francis is not only a prolific writer but a good debater dating back to his Secondary School days where he represented and won many debates for his school. He was best debater in the Upper West Region in 2003 during Ghana’s 46 Independence Day Debate and represented the Region for the Inter-Zonals’ Debate from the 11-14th of Feb. 2003 where he was the principal speaker. He was also Regional “What Do You Know” quiz champion in the Upper West Region during the region’s 20th anniversary celebrations in 2003, he also won a National Essay Competition organized by Prevention of Aids and Drug Abuse Foundation (PADAF) on the topic, “how can the youth help in the fight against HIV/AIDS?” in 2002.
At the University of Ghana, he was best debater during Ghana’s 48th Independence Day debate on the motion, “Ghana has realized her dreams after 48 years of Independence”, and he spoke against the motion.
Francis has also been a leader. Some of the positions he has held before include, 2007-2008, Geography and Resource Development Students’ Association (GREDSA), Chairman, Educational Committee 2006-2008, National President, St. Francis Xavier Past Students’ Association, Students’ Chapter , 2006-2007, Mensah Sarbah Hall, Siren Magazine, Associate Editor/Columnist, 2005-2006, University of Ghana Debate Society, Organising Secretary, 2002-2003, St Francis Xavier Jnr. Seminary Debate Society, President, 2002-2003, St. Francis Xavier Jnr. Seminary, Environmental prefect.
Workshops/Seminars
5-8th July, 2010: Attended a training workshop on migration for African Young Scholars and Researchers at the University of Lagos, Nigeria organized by Network of Migration Research on Africa (NOMRA)
24-25th November, 2009: Rapporteur on a workshop at the African Regent Hotel, Accra-Ghana on the theme: “capacity building of the newly formed Diaspora Ministries in Africa”.
9-10th June, 2009: Attended a workshop at Alisa Hotel, Accra on the theme: Child and Youth Migration in West Africa
4/11/08: Rapporteur on a workshop at the British Council, Liberia Road, Accra on the theme: Migration and Ghana-Exploring the challenges and identifying solutions, organized by The British High Commission.
2005: Participant, Pax Romana Investment Summit
2005: Participant, Achievers Strategic Seminar
Research Experience
2010 Research Assistant: Transnational Child Raising Arrangement (TCRA Project) between the University of Ghana & Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
2009 Research Assistant: African Gender and Development Index (AGDI) to measure and access progress being made in addressing gender inequality in Africa within the framework of global, regional and sub-regional standards. UNECA Project.
2009 Research Assistant: Mobility of Health Professionals in Ghana ( MOHPROF), I.O.M Project
2008 Research Assistant: Agricultural Governance and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process in Ghana
2008 The Role of Women in rural development: A study of Jirapa as part of requirements for the award of the B.A (Honours) degree in Geography & Resource Development
i have never doubted the abilities of this young man, he was my senior in xavier and he was my president in the university
This is an enterprising young man with a bright future. A good material indeed. We are proud of you Sir.
Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations,our possibilities become limitless.The sky is your limit Francis, soo proud of u
A rich profile. the sky is just the beginning
You have the knowledge and the experience, with this you will go far….God be with you
Not surprising at all! I think Francis has understated his achievements and the measure of his wits. He’s a man of an invaluable measure; a man of foresight and fortitude; one made for greater laurels only. Francis is an asset to the family; we are so much proud of him. As far as you can, just keep soaring…more grease to all your joints bro!
that is good u are real am experience person for me to consult when the needs arises
Young man, as gentle and respecfull as you are i DUNSTAN have no doubts about your unpresidented achievements.amidts hard and difficult times you managed to spring out with force as if you were a volcano.To me this is just the genesis infact the tip of an iceberg.Francis you have a nationwide assignment to carry out in some few years to come and i have no doubts about it so just pray hard to God.Remember you can count the number of seeds in an aple but cant count the number of aples in a seed.Im PROUD OF YOU.God bless us!.