Western Daily Press (Saturday)
‘I’m proud to be cabinet’s first black member’
AFORMER soldier who served in Afghanistan has been appointed South Gloucestershire Council’s first black cabinet member.
Cllr Franklin Owusu-Antwi will be a “champion for equality of opportunity” in a newly created portfolio position that also includes public health.
He has pledged to encourage and celebrate diversity and will work closely with the voluntary community sector, as well as taking responsibility for the local authority’s Armed Forces Covenant.
Accepting the role at a full council meeting on Wednesday, Cllr OwusuAntwi said: “Throughout my life I have seen and experienced a great deal of inequality and racism, which sadly for decades came part and parcel with being someone of my colour of skin.
“I have, however, done my best to view this as a motivation to strive for better, having served seven years in the British Army, including in Afghanistan, where I was one of the few soldiers I encountered from the BAME community.”
Cllr Owusu-Antwi, who was elected to represent Bradley Stoke ward last year, was redeployed to the Ministry of Defence in Abbey Wood before returning to civilian life in 2012.
He worked as a logistics consultant advising Nato, the United Nations, the MoD and others on a range of international projects in aid of developing and newly independent countries.
The Conservative councillor also founded the charity Assistplus, which supports veterans in the community, and has supported BAME communities across South Gloucestershire and Bristol through a series of outreach initiatives.
He told the remote meeting: “I am proud to be appointed as the first black member on this council, particularly during Black History Month.
“Being given the chance to serve in this administration is nothing short of a privilege and I am delighted to accept the position.
“South Gloucestershire has been affected to a lesser extent by Covid-19 than some other parts of the country, but there is no room for complacency as every infection poses a risk and every death is a tragedy.
“It impacts both physical and mental health, personal relationships, jobs and our environment and, nationally, has had a disproportionate effect on people from the BAME community and has the potential to widen the existing gap of inequalities.”
He said he was keen to encourage diversity in race, gender and sexuality across the district.
“I also want to ensure we promote diversity of thought and the sentiment that everyone doesn’t have to think the same for us to be a welcoming and respectful society,” he said.
“Together we should have the same equality of opportunity, both in terms of a healthy, happy life and every opportunity that comes with it.”
Council leader Cllr Toby Savage said: “I am pleased to welcome Franklin to the cabinet.
“He has been a pleasure to work with since his election last year and will be an asset within the cabinet and a benefit to the people of South Gloucestershire.
“I know that with his wealth of experience and positive attitude, this new role will give the administration a fantastic opportunity to tackle some of the biggest and most delicate challenges we face in our communities.”