Ghanaian photojournalist, Pious Ali with the defunct People and Places newspaper, known as P and P, has shared his remarkable journey in the United States of America (USA), detailing his rise in community leadership and politics since moving abroad in search of greener pastures.

In an exclusive interview with Classfmonline.com, Mr. Ali recounted how his work in community building, leadership, and education paved the way for his entry into U.S. politics.

According to him, he made history in 2013 when he was elected to the School Board of the City of Maine, making him the first Ghanaian to be elected to public office in the U.S.

 He also became the first African Muslim to achieve such a milestone in the state.

"My election to the school board was a turning point, as it allowed me to contribute to shaping the education system in my community," he said.

Building on his political journey, Mr. Ali contested and won the position of Assistant Councilor in 2016.

His passion for leadership and public service later led him to run for Mayor in 2023, though he was unsuccessful in that bid.

Despite this, his vast institutional knowledge and leadership experience earned him a place as a City Councilor, and he was later appointed Standby Mayor.

Explaining his role, Mr. Ali stated that a Standby Mayor is responsible for taking over the duties of the Mayor in the event that the elected Mayor is unable to perform their responsibilities as required by law.

"Being a Standby Mayor means stepping in when needed to ensure continuity in leadership and governance," he explained.

Mr. Ali's story highlights the growing influence of Ghanaians in diaspora politics and serves as an inspiration for others seeking to make a difference in their communities abroad.

Profile

A dedicated public servant, an assertive and pragmatic leader with a diversified skill set in community organizing, activism, and civic engagement, Pious is the founding Director of Portland-based Portland Empowered a program that creates opportunities for Students and families to engage their school and work with them to create an equitable learning environment through Racial Equity Lense.

He’s worked as a Youth and Community Engagement Specialist at the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School of Public Service (Portland Empowered) and has spent the better part of his career focused on community engagement.

He has created a meaningful and ongoing dialogue across cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic, and faith-based barriers.

 Prior to joining the Muskie School, Pious worked with the city of Portland’s refugee services and spent many summers working as a facilitator for Seeds of Peace, a summer programme which builds relationships and leadership skills among youth from regions of conflict.

He also worked as a site coordinator for the Peer Leader Programme at what is now the Opportunity Alliance in Portland, Maine, and as an Education and Community Engagement Coordinator at the Portland branch of the NAACP.

 Mr. Ali is the first African-born Muslim American to be elected to a public office in Maine, becoming a member of the city’s elected Board of Public Education in 2013.

He also founded the erstwhile Maine Interfaith Youth Alliance and Co-founded the King Fellows, a Portland-based youth group dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for youth through leadership and civic engagement based on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Mr. Ali is an alumnus of the Institute for Civic Leadership (known as Lift360),  and in 2015 he was named Lift360’s Most Distinguished Alumnus.

He’s received other recognition for his work including the Gerda Haas Award for Excellence in Holocaust and Human Rights Education & Leadership in 2017 by the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine, and The Watering Can Award in 2019 from Maine Initiatives. Pious has served and continues to serve on many advisory groups and  boards of directors, including Rippleffect, YMCA of Southern Maine,  Greater Portland METRO, and the Greater Portland Council of Governments 

A native of Ghana, Pious worked as a photojournalist for a range of print publications.

He migrated to the United States of America, first to New York City, and has called Maine his home since 2002 where he lives with his two children.