A JOURNEY WORTH REMINISCING!
In 2011, I was offered Bachelor of Science in Administration at the Prestigious University of Ghana Business School (UGBS). As fate may have it, I entered school in 2011, completed in 2016 and graduated in 2017. Upon entering Senior High School (SHS) I made up my mind that it was Legon or nothing after. This was informed by the fact that University of Ghana (UG) was always in the news for all the good reasons. My resolve to attend this school was rekindled when I met a number of UG student activists at NUGS Congress which was held at Ola Girls, Ho. They were campaigning for Mr. Rauf Adam for NUGS President. I was more determined to be there because I could see myself doing a similar thing they were doing as a young activist who just handed over as Greater Accra Regional SRC President.
After SHS I was reluctant to apply immediately for school. As a young man I had so many fantasies of how life will turn out for me. I thought critically of how my fee was going to be footed throughout my university life since things weren’t all that good back home. I had in mind to work for some time before going back to school, besides I wasn’t all that happy with my Nov/Dec result and wanted to get my WASSCE result before applying to Legon, my dream school.
One day, my Mum asked me what my plans were after SHS. Well, I told her I don’t have plans to go to school now. I wanted to wait for a year or two before going to school so that I can do something to support myself. She asked that I check to see if admissions to Legon were still opened, I did and it was two days to the deadline for applications. She gave me money and insisted that I buy the form. I had no choice so around 11: 54 pm, on the deadline of application, I pressed send in a café around Adabraka Police Station. The rest is history.
There were ups and downs, failures and successes. The University of Ghana offered me a number of opportunities that no university in Ghana could have offered me (not meant for a debate). One of them was that I was given the best lecturers and lectures meant for me to probably make first class and as well allow the school passes through me by acquiring experiences that will make me a holistic graduate. I took a path that was quite difficult but was determined to hold on to it even though the heavens may fall. One thing I didn’t know however was that I was going to pay a greater price for the path I chose.
I had to defer my course of study twice along the journey, once for a full year and the other for a semester. I had difficulties making better grades in some subjects especially those that come with formulas that you would have to grab their concepts right from the word go due to my unavailability to participate in most of the lectures. But this road also challenged and offered me the opportunity to put my talents and skills at the service of many a people locally and internationally, especially the youth and students of Ghana. It also offered me the opportunity to meet many people who have made great impacts in my life. Some of these people have become friends for life and some sisters and brothers for life. The others who decided to become enemies, I wish it wasn’t so but I hope that they will forgive me if I offended them in one way or the other.
I remember being a bit worried about the academic class I obtained some few months ago while with Mr. Frederick Yuorkuu (the Assistant Registrar and Academic Officer of UGBS) and his response was, “Count yourself blessed Prosper because you have acquired what every student should strive to acquire. You have Second Class Honours, that is a good class. You also have a vast experience in various fields especially in the area of leadership. Sadly about 90% of your colleagues just passed through the school in search of first class, some of whom couldn’t even get what you have. I wish I could show the results of others to you. What were you expecting? First class after all these ups and downs coupled with traveling all over?”
Well, he was very right, I couldn’t just make that.
What I have acquired outside the lecture theatre, I know no university in the world can teach me that using 10-100 years, suffice to say I don't regret choosing this path.
I am exceedingly grateful to him (Mr. Frederick Yuorkuu) for being my academic adviser for the past 2 years. Dr. Justice Bawole (HOD of PAHS), and my lecturer in a number of subjects, I am very grateful Sir. To Mr. Alex Osei Kojo, my lecturer and Long Essay supervisor (a Long Essay that never were. Lol), thank you for indulging me Sir. To Dr. Richardson Azunu, the Lecturer who made me develop interest in Public Administration right from day one, I say thank you very much for the great foundation. Dr. Daniel Appiah , Dr. Seidu Mahama and all the wonderful lecturers and their Teaching Assistants who taught me, accommodated my annoying questions, my annoying attitude of coming to class late but leaving early, permitting me to receive calls sometimes in class when I was NUGS President, I say God richly bless you all. To the Principal, Staff, and the SRC of University of Ghana Accra City Campus, I can’t appreciate you enough for the support during my tenure as NUGS President.
To my Mum, Eno Mary (you have made this possible through your prayers, guidance, counseling, advise, financial support among others), to 'My Best Friend' who stood by me all these years and keep pushing me never to give up, I am grateful dearest. To my sisters, brothers, aunties, uncles, grandparents, friends as well as all my colleagues who have been of help in one way or the other, you know I can’t thank you enough. Your support, prayers, encouragement has made the needed difference.
I am indebted to Mr. Isaac Barima Yaw Dompreh , Mr. Abdul Razak, and Mr. Frederick Ahiable for giving me the opportunity to serve in their respective administrations as Local NUGS Secretary and Local NUGS President when they were SRC Presidents of University of Ghana Accra City Campus.
To those I served with in University of Ghana Parliament House (UGPH) and University of Ghana Parliament House of Accra City Campus (UGPHACC), I know my journey couldn’t have been this interesting without you.
To my colleagues whom I entered school with in 2011 and those I completed with, in the year 2016, I say take the lead, we are coming. To the Graduating Class of UGBS, 2017, I pray that God blesses our journey with a lot of obstacles so that we can identify the opportunities in them and become solutions to our families, societies, countries, continent and the world at large. In your sober moments, please don't forget to pay a glowing tribute in memory of colleagues and friends who passed on to glory along the way, and be grateful to God because He has brought us this far.
To the PROSPERous Family (my NUGS Presidency Campaign Team) and all the youth and students who gave me the opportunity to mentor, serve and make one or two impacts in their lives, I am exceedingly grateful.
I am very grateful to my former colleagues, 2014/2015 NUGS Executives. I must say it was a privilege serving with great leaders like you; I truly appreciate every support and hard work you put up during our tenure.
Looking back, I have realized that maybe, just maybe I could have been a better Christian, a better leader, a better student or maybe I could have worked harder in order to obtain first class for my family, but I know I will be very ungrateful if I still asked for more despite all that God has done for me. After all it is not everyone who is able to graduate from school, others die, others drop out, others defer and never return, others are sacked for academic misconduct, others are even sacked for nonperformance. In fact combining academic work with student and youth leadership at the national and international level is one of the most difficult things to do, especially in a School like the Business School (UGBS) where there is vigorous academic work mostly with a little or no breathing space guided by strict and higher academic standard.
I don't want to remember the numerous lectures (planned & unplanned), group and individual assignments, research works, class presentations, quizzes, interim assessments and the uncertainties that come with exams. I hope to have the courage to put my experiences in a book one day, till then I wish to close my mind to some of the above experiences at least for now.
While acknowledging the fact that my degree belongs to multiple families, I would like to dedicate it to my late biological parents, Torgbe Mensah Dzitse and Madam Dora Sena Nortu, for giving me a solid foundation. Their desire was to give me a good education. Wherever they are, I say, we have made it.
To God be the Glory for the Great things He has done, nothing have I achieved without Him.
NB: I wrote this with two objectives in mind.
One to thank God and appreciate all the people who have one way or the other helped me to be where I am.
Secondly, so that every year when reminded of this day, I will make the effort to pray and check up on some of the groups and individuals mentioned above for being part of my journey as well as take stock of how far I have traveled after this phase of life.
