Ato Austin was the Secretary-General of the Youth Wing of the People's National Party (PNP) before going into government.
[1] After the PNDC was formed, Austin was among several student leaders and activists who were given appointments at various levels in Ghana.
[3] Kwame Karikari, a former Director General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation which runs GTV disclosed how he lobbied Austin as Secretary for Information and Rawlings leading to the country seeking a grant from Japan for the switch to colour TV transmission in Ghana from 1985.
[4] Following a reshuffle in 1983, Austin was appointed Secretary for Labour and Social Welfare[5][6] Later in September 1982, he gave assurances that the Public Tribunals created by the PNDC government would not use "unorthodox" measures in their functions.
[8] He also served as Central Regional secretary under Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings.