I Know a Ghanaian Star Prize giving Lunch

Winning Konnect Africa's "I know a Ghanaian Star" writing competition is a  big achievement for me and a great step in my writing journey.  It feels awesome when your effort pays, trust me.  It is not completely about the prize but about the experience and fulfilment.  I have blogged about it already but this is to bring life and evidence to complete the whole story.

August 9,2014 was the day scheduled for the Prize giving Lunch which was to take place at Buka Restaurant located in Osu, Accra. This long awaited Saturday finally arrived and it was so awesome. It was a colourful,  fun filled and wonderful.  It's one of those days which you don,t need to mark in your best days column in your diary but you simply and naturally remember it for the rest of your life.

The organisers safely arrived by 7 am in Accra from Nigeria for the event. By12:30 noon, the organisers,  winners and a special guest were all gathered at Buka Restaurant in Osu. Buka is a beautiful African restaurant.  Their building,  interior,exterior and everything portrays Africa. Only African dishes are available and served, so in case you are craving for Ampesi, fufu, akpl3 and fetri detsi,  Buka is the right place to head to.
 
We had an awesome time connecting with  each other,  learning, eating and receiving our prices!

Young Legends of Inspiration- Regina Agyare

A lot of people believe in great things but it is actually a few people who take the initiative to do the great things they believe in.  I heard her story and got inspired. This young lady had a dream, took daring decisions and bold steps even though a bit risky.

Regina Agyare is a young social entrepreneur who is passionate and loves Technology. She has been in the technology industry for 8 years and has worked in varying positions as

Product Manager for Internet Applications at Rancard Solutions, Product Manager for E-business

Applications and Management and Information Systems Supervisor at various companies.With the dream of changing the African single story through technology, she has taken great initiatives so there could be more positive stories coming from Africa.

She attended Ashesi University where she studied Computer Science. She found herself working in a bank after completing school where she worked very hard to develop a lot of their web applications and set up that department. She was unfortunately denied promotion because She was a 

 female and young. She felt devastated and resigned from the job and got employed at another bank. There, she had a good salary, bonuses, she could get special recommendations and afford a great life but she felt unfulfilled because that did not match her dreams. With an alarm of making a change ringing in her head all the time, she obeyed and resigned.

She then moved on to start a company, Soronko Solutions which has a mission of using basic technology to drive human potential and a vision of developing the next generation of critical thinkers and innovators in STEM. The company also leverages on developing innovative technology solutions across different channels such as Web, Mobile, POS and ATM to solve problems. She is currently helping small and medium scale enterprises in Ghana create visibility and grow their businesses with technology.

In her high school days, she had a dream of becoming a rocket scientist, she couldn't further with that because the educational system wasn't structured in a way which could help her make this dream a reality. So then brooded on these questions; “how can I create a better environment for young children like me who would want to build rockets?” “How can they be fostered and nurtured to think about Africa’s problems?” “How can they become critical thinkers and problems solvers?”

These thoughts drove her to the rural areas where she had different sessions with children on Science and Technology games which required critical thinking. During those sessions, she found out that the boys were aggressive and the girls always stood back watching. 

There again, she thought about how she could get girls to take part in creating technology to have the female perspective. Then a brilliant brainchild was born.

She set up “Tech needs Girls”, a mentorship program which trains girls between(6-19) how to code, build mobile applications and websites. She invites other females who are either computer scientists or engineers to have coding classes with the girls every Saturday. These girls are now designing web applications which is really amazing!

Her hardwork paid off!  Below are some awesome opportunities and achievements of hers;

      •Her story was published in the Lean In for Graduates by Sheryl Sandberg COO of Facebook.

•She is an Aspen Institute New Voices Fellow,Global Shaper of the Accra hub of the World Economic Forum, Vital Voices Fellow,Change Leader with Tigo Reach For Change and YALI Washington Fellow 2014 and will meet Obama and Michelle.

•Finalist for the African Digital Woman of the Year,awarded Women of Courage Award for Technology and Tech Needs Girls was awarded in the Ghana CSR Diary Awards

•Had the Crown Princess of Sweden come to the Slum to visit Tech Needs Girls and was invited to speak at Harvard University and TEDxLabone.

•She is on the project advisory board to help advice the UN Committee for the Rights of a Child update the Convention for the Rights of the Child for a Digital Age.  

If you have a dream, just go ahead and work it out!

Super Wednesday- The Contest

Whiles going through my Google+ notifications, I came across this;

cool opportunity, I thought. I took time to know what it actually entailed; subject,requirements, conditions etc. We were supposed to write about someone who is M.A.D (making a difference) in our society or country.The prizes were so cool too.

  Not a bad topic at all I thought, smiling to myself. I instantly put on my thinking cap and decided on who to write about. I didn't need to let my thinking wheels travel too far. With the Young Legends of Inspiration segment on my blog in mind, I decided to write about the first legend  +Ato Ulzen-Appiah, of course with his permission which he granted! I was really glad he did, it was an honour.
I started working at it right away.I gathered all facts and information I needed and with a spice of my creativity, this article was born; http://www.konnectafrica.net/ato-ulzen-appiah-is-a-ghanaian-star/
It was quite a herculean task which took days but I finally submitted it.

On 24th May 2013, I received good news; my entry made it to the top five, it was however not uhuru! I was to make people read my story, get inspired and like it via the facebook button and the highest number of likes would be declared as winner!  Hmmm...another round. I did my best and with the unwavering help of some awesome people, I managed to get over 600 people to read, get inspired and like my story.
Checking my progress with the number of likes was now the first thing I did when I woke up and the last thing I did before retiring to bed.
I won't forget how fast my heart would beat when my opponents were trying to catch up with me especially during the last days to the deadline. I wanted to win; If I would win anything, I wanted it to be concerning writing because I am highly passionate about writing.

During the waiting period, I really thought the days were very slow but the deadline finally came and I received great and joyous news; I WON!, I WON the "I know a Ghanaian Star writing competition"!!!

http://www.konnectafrica.net/winnersiknowaghanaianstar/

My joy knew no bounds, I fulfilled knowing that I have made one big progress in my writing journey. My joy isn't really about the prize but with the fact that I have been able to achieve something with my writing ability and made progress on this  amazing writing journey of mine. Hardwork really pays, I believe and this has proved it. Let's put away procrastination and laziness and be inspired to work hard in all areas of our endeavours. Remember,"Less Talk, More Action".

I am particularly grateful to all those who helped and encouraged me to get this far. What would I have done without you all?  Thank you so much!

Super Wednesday- Etornam

I believe I have come a long way ever since I started writing in 2007 during my first year at OLA Girls Senior High School. At the beginning, I had no mentor, my only inspiration was the fact that my first story "Just a dream" got published in "The Mirror", a weekly newspaper in Ghana. That raised my spirits and motivated me to do more writing. I didn't really think I was good before that happened.

Just about that time, national service personnels were posted to come teach at my school, and Etornam was one of them. He was assigned to teach Literature. Though I wasn't in the General Arts class, I started hearing about this new, cute and good Literature teacher in the dorms, bath houses, on working plots, classrooms and every possible gathering places, Literature students could not keep quiet about how good he was at teaching Literature. Soon, there were rantings about him everywhere.Though I was curious to know who he was, that wasn't my on my agenda.

Time flew and getting to the end of first year, Etornam and I crossed paths though I can't clearly remember how. As time went by, I realised the need for someone to help me build my writing skills so I approached Etornam and requested to be my writing coach which he gladly accepted. It was one big previledge;  because he knew and helped me a lot.He gave me several writing assignments,helped me build my vocabulary, edited my works,I can say he believed in my writing ability more than I did as at then. He inspired me a lot and pushed me to do more.
He pushed in me the awareness that people needed to read my pieces. He saw in me what I couldn't see and helped a great deal to develop it.I won't forget how he would say "Mabel, don't ever stop writing". He worked with me as though he was going to be paid. He was ever ready to help me out, any time, anywhere. Even when I thought I had written something useless, Etornam would see good in that and help me mould it into something really useful.

The academic year came to an end and the national service personnels had also completed their term of service, my coach had to leave. This was bad news for me, the thought of Etornam leaving always broke my heart. Who could take his place? He was a priceless gift to me who helped me out a great deal.
I gradually built the courage to accept the fact that his departure from OLA was inevitable. Even though he left, he still stayed in touch.

It was with his inspiration I started this blog. My passion for writing grew as a results of him.With his words ringing in my mind, I am always reminded I shouldn't stop writing. This day, I appreciate you for being what you were to me. Each day, when I take a pen to write or go through my blog, I remember I started with you and would have probably not reach here without you. Thank you Etornam

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Young Legend of Inspiration: Edward Amartey-Tagoe

I hinted on Google plus on how excited I am to outdoor a new inspiring legend here. I believe that once you are letting your light shine, you shall be recognized no matter how dark the corner you have hidden yourself. After all, sugar does not announce it presence but the ants always locate it.

  

Determined to become a medical doctor from childhood, Edward Amartey-Tagoe applied to study biological science at the University of Ghana. Two years after, he unfortunately did not make it on the final list of students going to be admitted into the medical school. Very heart breaking it was for him as he watched his peers make it into the medical school without him.  He finally just had to choose any of the Science majors which he resorted to Psychology.

Though disappointed and heart broken, Edward made efforts which turned things around in his life. He found out he had fallen in love with some thing else after his first love medicine had failed him. He realized he had developed some passion for Entrepreneurship; founded a small venture to supply university students with their mobile phone calls airtime needs. He grew this small venture into a 4 staff venture with a turn-over attractive enough to pay his own bills and no longer depend on his parents. What started in Legon Hall soon got branches into two others and another one in Madina.

After two years, Edward sold his business, although he wouldn't say how much, he says it was enough to provide for himself till he entered MEST.

Edward was born with an Entrepreneurial instinct. He always on the lookout for buying and selling opportunities. Edward has tried his hands and many different entrepreneurship chances, not all were legal though. He has provided passports for the University of Ghana student body before, something he did until Anas stormed University of Ghana and 'spoilt the market'. For two years, Edward connected bed--buyers and bed sellers together and made his cut on the transactions. Though this was seasonal, it became a trade he was very well known for. At the beginning of the academic year, most stranded students would look for Edward, who most often than not, had a list of others who were  willing to sell their beds!

Now he is an ethical business man, and whenever he looks back at all the funny attempts at entrepreneurship, he has  no regrets. For him, these were the stages he had to go through to get to what he is now.

After his Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Ghana, he enrolled at Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology(MEST) , the biggest tech incubator in West Africa. The US State department selected Edward as a tedx fellow in December 2012 to share his inspiring stories with other african youth in the continent. Edward is a Software Entrepreneur with a strong passion for technology, social media and youth capacity building. Edward's leadership roles in Ghana's I.T community has seen him

 in the fore front of tech related events and projects such as Tedx Accra, Tedx Dzorwulu, Blog camp, apps4africa and over 20 barcamp events across the length and breadth of Ghana.

He established Nandimobile. In 2011, less than a year after starting Nandimobile, the young start-up won the Best Business Award at the Launch Conference (formerly TechCrunch 50), one of the world's biggest tech conferences organized in the Silicon Valley. Nandimobile's effective technologies which connect businesses to their consumers on mobile devices, is patronized by more than close to 400 businesses in Ghana which include the nation's big brands. 

Nandimobile's technology is supported by a sound business model which saw the company break even in its second year of operations. Nandimobile in 2013 became the 1st company in Ghana to ever win the United Nation's World Summit National Award and also Global awards in the same year. Techcrunch, CNN, The Next Web, MyJoyOnline and many other reputable journals have recognized Nandimobile's efforts in Ghana.

He led a team to establish the Ghana Social Media Hub. He also managed a team to host BlogCamp12, BlogCamp13 and BlogCamp14, Ghana's biggest social media events. He is currently the Director of Nandimobile Ltd and Director of Blogging Ghana.

 The following are some awards he has received;

• One of Ghana's 100 Most Influential personalities in 2013
• GUBA rLG Development Award, London, Nov 2013
• United Nation's WSA Global Champion, Sri Lanka, Oct 2013
• United Nations WSA Award for best e-content, Accra, Sept 2013
• Best Business Award, Launch Conference, San Francisco CA, Feb 2011
• 1st Runner-up App Circus Mobile App Competition Sept 2011

• Recipient, Presidential award and Scholarship, Jan 2000.
• Best Male Student for Eastern Region, March 1999. 
• Recipient, Methodist scholars’ Award, 1999. 

Born to a diplomat and an entrepreneur, Edward learnt and tasted different cultures because of his father's diplomatic assignments. Many Ghanaians live and die without ever shaking hands with any of Ghana's Preisdents past or present. However as one of twenty winners of Presidential Awards in 1999, Edward got the opportunity to shake hands with Ghana's President Jerry John Rawlings at a colourful occasion usually organized to reward academic excellence.

Edward attended Presbyterian Boys' Senior High School, one of Ghana's best senior high schools known to produce brilliant achievers. Edward has two sisters and is the last born. He is always grateful to his mum who at a very old age still decided to carry her pregnancy to full term whiles still stared at all the possible risks. Edward's challenge at a young age was to dissociate his father's influence from his achievements. 

With his above achievements he has attained, it's very obvious that challenged has been cleared!

I find it very inspiring that even though Edward came from a well-to-do family, he did not allow that to get into his head, but rather went ahead to work hard and take the bold initiatives which brought him huge successes!  

Young Legend of Inspiration- Gabriel Obodai Torgbor-Ashong.

Something struck me when I met this young man in my first year at the Ghana Institute of Journalism; he was different from others I had already met, after listening to him, I knew I had to take action. As time flew,actions and initiatives he took confirmed and solidified how different I felt when I met him the first time.He is "less talk, more action" personified.

Gabriel Obodai Torgbor-Ashong is his name, a final year student of the Ghana Institute of Journalism pursuing communication studies with Journalism as his major.
He is currently the General Secretary of the Ghana Institute of Journalism Student' representative Council and was the Google Student Ambassador for GIJ during the 2012/2013 academic year.

As a Google Student Ambassador then, he trained over 700 students on online Journalism and how best to earn income through it. He has also spearheaded an initiative of distributing over 500 free special Airtel Sim cards to students to make communication among them more efficient and convenient.
As General Secretary, He has immensely contributed to the success of our administration. Thanks to the Council's advocacy, a spacious students’ lounge has been built. He and his team have additionally installed a Plasma TV with a DSTV package for students’ pleasure, convenience and awareness. As of now, the SRC has also contributed to the successful establishment of Radio GIJ, 97.7 MHz. Today, students will directly have the opportunity to practice lessons taught in class and thereby enhance their potential.His early academic life did not all predict someone who would hold these positions.

"My dad is a commercial driver and my mum, a petty trader. I’m proud of them mainly because though they were not educated, they did everything within their capacity to educate me. I had my basic education at La Wireless ‘4’ School. I was one of the least performing students in class throughout my primary school,I couldn't read, write nor even spell simple words. Friends collected money from me before explaining assignments to me. I remember whilst in primary four, I was appointed the class prefect of my class but because I couldn't determine the names of my friends behind their exercise books to share to them, the position was taken from me and given to someone else. You can imagine the kind of embarrassment that brought me". he recounted.

"I never thought I could ever be that brilliant like some of my  class mates till my last day at Primary School: which was known as "OURDAY". I was playfully walking on a school corridor when I overhead two teachers advising the then School Prefect.They told him to often sit in front, be bold to speak and read to the hearing of everyone in class. I picked this advice, used it when we finally got to JSS at La Wireless ‘4’ Basic School. God being merciful, it worked for me. By the time I got to JSS 2, teachers considered me one of the best pupils in class and soon appointed me class prefect till we completed. I then attended Presbyterian Senior High school La, where I got elected the Compound Prefect and head of the Students’ Disciplinary Committee" he said gladly

"Whilst at PRESEC, I was privileged to volunteer for a youth advocacy organization called curious Minds(CM). CM is a media advocacy organization based at Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. I had the opportunity to travel with the group to child labour and child trafficking villages to assist children who were being abused in one way or the other. We brought their plight to the doorstep of policy makers and made it known through the group’s radio programmes on Unique FM and Obonu FM. I am privileged to be a presenter on one of the Organizations radio programme for the past four years" he said.

In 2010, through his work with Curious Minds, he was selected together with another volunteer to represent Ghana at the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa held in Ethiopia. He was privileged to have met former US President George Bush and then Ethiopian President, MelesZenawi.

After completing Presec La, He gained admission to read B.A. in Communication Studies at the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 2010. Whilst in level 100 at GIJ, he and his friend noticed that there was not any platform where students could easily and directly practice lessons taught in class.They energized
and established a fortnight student centred newsletter called Keteke Ghana. Realizing the impact Ketekenews was making on students, they established Keteke Club as a department to invite Communication experts to inspire and train students to write effectively.

They wanted to make impact on others and so they took a bold but herculean initiative. Keteke adopted a village in the Central Region called Otibilkrom. The village lacked potable water, health centre and electricity. The only school there was up to class three and without any accreditation.  Members of Keteke mobilized resources like books, pens and clothes and donated to children in the village.
They taught the pupils there, advocated through the media with a special documentary we made. Partly through their efforts, the school now has an accreditation from Ghana Education Service and the village has a borehole now.

"When we began the initiative and shared the idea with some friends to support, they mocked us and thought it will collapse in no time. Today, I look at the impact Keteke is creating on campus and beyond and become so thankful." he said.

"Through my volunteerism work with Keteke Ghana and Curious Minds, I have had the opportunity to visit the United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Togo to support young people’s initiative. I started reporting for Metro TV recently and I really look forward build up my journalism skills through the wonderful platform
I may have started life as a less intelligent guy but today, the story is quite different. Mates who looked down upon me years back hear of and see me and become amused about where I have reached. I started reporting for Metro TV recently and I really look forward build up my journalism skills through the wonderful platform" he added.

"For me, it’s just by the Grace of God.I am a strong believer in Christ. I also believe that irrespective of our background, we can make a difference in our own small ways just as some of our own colleagues are also doing. To this end I often say that in life, time waits for no individual so you act now or regret later for not taking that important step. Whatever you decide to do, you commit yourself to do it well less you bother yourself. So you either drink deep or you taste not". he advises.

This is my young legend of inspiration.How he never relents till he has taken that initiative and sees to it till its a done deal is really admiring. Many students lives have been impacted through his training programs and I am one of such students. I must confess he really has a heart of gold, he so has volunteerism at heart and never hesitates to be involved when it comes up.
His constant encouragement and "can-do-spirit" is a key ingredient in keeping my blogging spirit alive. He serves as an inspiration to many students on campus. He is inspiring, yes he is!

Kindly take a minute to know him better through this one minute video:

He will be very happy to hear from you.


Google+ : Gabriel Obodai Torgbor-Ashong.
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/GEBASH
Email address : gabrielashong@gmail.com
Blog : gabrielashong.blogspot.com

Super Wednesday- Unexpected Change

The great joys of yesterday,
Without a pain.
How frequent smiles appeared on my face,
At an ever increasing pace.

Without a warning,
The lights dimmed.
Down smiles were pinned,
In, darkness creeped.

Green turned red,
No more bread,
Waters dried,
Times without number eyes cried.

Flesh thinned,
Outlets stiffened,
Sorrow thickened,
Friends were far away.

My head, a carriage.
Carried my own burdens,
With no pardon,
Seeking for refuge.

Strength drained,
Heart aches,
Weak, bone goes.
Joy always faints.

Who? ,
When? ,
Where? ,
How? .

 My brain seeks answers,
 For wholeness my heart yearns.
 Strength my bones needs,
 From whence shall these come?

 I see it from afar,
The green light day,
Though far,
Worth waiting for!