Thus far Two Score and Five Years

Growing up I have thought that life is progressive and smooth. I started my primary school education at age six at the Nungua Presby Primary School and entered class one, comment from my teacher to my mum who sell fruits at the school was that I am a good student and that she should take good care of me. I continued to class three and then moved to Ford Preparatory School, Teshie. I met a crop of strong and brilliant students. You can imagine coming from “Cyto” a public school to a private school (preparatory school) very challenging. Life at Ford Preparatory School will be another episode.

With the reform in the educational system, I was moved back to Nungua ACC 1 Primary School in 1987 to class six. My classmates were not as tough as I had encountered at Ford Preparatory School. Sometimes I think the change of school also contributed to the failures I encountered in my academic life, but God knows best. Fast forward I was one of the top students in this school. I represented the school in an English and Science competition. I had all the support from teachers and friends. I belong to the second batch of the New Junior Secondary School (JSS) System. Prior to writing our exams in September, the Non-Allied Movements (NAM) Conference was Accra in September 1991 which gave birth to the construction of the International Conference Centre. The PNDC secretary for Education was Dr (Mrs) Mary Grant during this period. Waaoo my history was good. I wrote the BECE and passed with distinction. My first choice school was Tema Secondary School where my name was second on the list of selected students to the science class. I was very glad looking forward to become a Pharmacist. Life at Tema Secondary School will be another episode. 

I wrote the SSCE in 1994 and failed miserably. I asked myself so many questions. A good and strong academic student like me, how can I fail Physics and Mathematics. The answer to this question I have not received till now, life became very miserable. The then Minister in Charge of Education, Hon Harry Sawyer acknowledge the mass failure of the second batch of SSS students and put in systems for students to write remedial exams in November 1995. I took the opportunity to re-register and sit for the remedial exams but did not have the financial support to afford extra classes and even the registration fees for the examinations. Two months to the examinations and a friend came to my house in Nungua to inform me that I have been registered for the exams so I have to make it a point to write. I took my old books and notes and started revision. I wrote the exams and passed though not very strong. This failure changed my level of thinking. My dad was unemployed but at least we have a place to lay our heads. An auto-mechanic who worked with the Tema Food Complex now unemployed. He is now a mason and contractor. He started his own block molding company with a friend and church member. This person has continued the business till today. My dad later converted to a contractor which pulled all of us into this trade. Myself together with my siblings worked as laborers (kponkpo). We build houses for people, trekked the bushes of Adogonno, Spintex and Kotobabi and Coastal Estates, where I find myself living now. My mom traded in all kinds of things. I remember me and my siblings hawking items like smoked fish, tomatoes and vegetables, key soap and “Azumah Atwere” Life was difficult during these times. We kept asking ourselves various questions, What is next stage of our life? Are we stuck in our education? People hesitate to support us, since they see our parents are noble people. My senior brother and I together with a cousin have turn to labours in the construction industry. Is this the place for us? Are we stuck? But at least we had secondary school education. The story of the rest of my siblings will be for another day. They did not get the opportunity to go to secondary school all because of finance, brilliant students but no hope. Your guess will be good as mine if this happened in 2017.

I was in this jobs for my parents whiles looking for other opportunities, church activities took the most part of our lives. I was nominated in the positions below and performed very well to the admiration of members.

• 1995 - 1997 (3years) - Youth Leader
• 1998 - 2000 (3years) - Church Clerk

The church was home for us, after sabbath lunch from members was a savior because these are days we go to church on sabbath on empty stomach. We go to "parasite" the food of others just for survival. Our diligence to church activities was superb. Service to God was a passion. It’s been a blessing.While engaged in the Lord’s work, I sought counsel from people and below are few:

• One of my mentor who is an accountant said “ if you had read business as elective at secondary school, I could have got you employment and also to train you". 
• An elder of my church also remark “Abi won’t you consider being a Pastor of the Church. You can train at VVU. 

I remember telling Elder hmmm, that fine, “but I have not received the call from God”

In 1996, One of my mentor the accountant asked me to do home tuition for his kids, then later in the evening when he gets home he will equally teach me accounting principles. I started this gradually and later in the year my former JSS teacher also introduced me to a preparatory school and I was then employed as a Pupil Teacher for Ghanaian Language (Ga) and Social Studies) with my monthly salary at C80,000 (today's GHC8.00). An Elder of my church told me and I quote “Abi this is just a stepping stone, you have to move on and go to school” 

I took the challenge therefore whiles teaching I was also engaged in home tuition. I got two clients were staff at Bank of Ghana. My monthly salary are always fresh notes. Which sometimes I keep and kept without spending serving as savings. I opened my first bank account at Social Security Bank now (SG SSB). I worked tirelessly saving to go to school. 

I tried the Teacher Training colleges, (PTC - Akropong, Jasikan Training Training College, Wiawso Training College, Ada Training College, if fact with Ada Training College an Elder of the church sponsored me to Ada to see the principal but all to no avail. I tried the Korle-bu School of Hygiene, I was not successful. I tried Accra Polytechnic now Accra Technical University no avail. Looks like every year, I had to try again if an opportunity may pop up.

The year 1995 - 2000 was a real test of my life. Shivering through challenges on in the quest to go to school. I started reading accounting and business related subjects on my own. In 1999, I wrote another remedial exams to improve upon my grades. This time much better than before. 

In 2000 I decided to apply to Valley View University to study Business Administration - Accounting Option. I discuss with my dad and he accepted but gave a caution, I don’t have any money to support you, you know I earn little income from the mason and laborer work. I told him I have saved some money to take me through the first year. My research was that VVU allows students to defer and come back anytime to continue. Therefore my plan was to spend eight (8)years at VVU. Defer every other year and come back to work for a year and go back. I got admission to VVU and say to the glory of God that instead eight years plan, I spent three and a half years at VVU. 

I enrolled in the VVU work study program as follows;

• Year 1 - Grounds work and bakery
• Year 2 - Bakery and cleaner at the computer science lab
• Year 3 - Cleaner at the computer science lab
• Year 4 - Lab Assistant at the Computer Science lab. 

The computer science lab changed my life. I worked as a cleaner and later became a lab assistant. My expertise and skills today in computer applications is ascribe to the cleaner job at the computer lab, humble beginnings. I assist students to save their term papers on diskettes, I learn computer DOS, installation of operating systems, office applications, pastel accounting, etc. in fact, I learned the hard way. 

Graduated from VVU in 2004, Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting Option, was posted to do National Service at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning through the support of a church elder. I was posted to work in the office of the special assistant to the Minister. Waooo, God is good. From a poor family, where no one has entered university, here I stand working at the Ministry of Finance and with the special assistant. This woman thought me so many things. You will recall that the late Kwadwo Baah Wiredu presented the 2006 budget on screen in parliament with so many charts, I am happy to be part of the his team. I worked with the Ghana at 50 secretariat, and even supported the Kwame Nkrumah anniversary committee with my expertise. One morning on my way to work, I met people saying “we saw you on TV yesterday” I was surprised. Son of a man who did not attend secondary school and an illiterate woman on TV, God be praised, but then subsequently, I advise the camera me not to capture me anytime I happen to be in a high powered program. From Ministry of Finance to Public Procurement Board then, at this time no chief executive but working with the Board members. I worked in the following areas, MIS, Monitoring and Evaluation, Procurement and Accounts. So much wealth of experience I have accumulated since. 

I proceeded further to my education and have achieved the following:

• Master of Financial Management, KNUST and Amity India, 
• MBA-Finance, Korea Advance Institute of Science and Technology, College of Business Seoul, 
• Chartered Member, Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. 
• more to come.....

For executive training programs, there so many in Ghana and across the continents.

If I cast my mind back through all these years, the failures, the frustrations, the challenges, the ups and downs and till today, I totally agree with Travis Greene, Tim Godfrey “Nara”

He's done so much for me

I can not tell it all

Narakele Mo

If I Had ten thousand tongues

It won't still be enough

Narakele Mo

Chukwu na gwom o ria le

When You heal You heal completely

Nara elele mo

Chukwu mara obim o

Isi ikendu le

Nara ekele mo

What shall I render to Jehovah?

For he has done so very much for me

What shall I render to Jehovah?

For he has done so very much for me

God has really been good to me. I will sing his praises all the time.

Today, I am happily married for twelve years (12yrs) with three (3) beautiful kids.

Notwithstanding my academic and professional qualifications, I am a highly skilled and results-oriented professional with solid excellent interpersonal communication skills and extensive experience in Finance, Accounting and Procurement. Proven ability to assess and manage complex obstacles, a strong troubleshooter, providing decisive team leadership and structure with a track record of motivating and developing others.

I have accumulated cross-cutting professional skills as enumerated below.

Excellent interpersonal communication skills, Excellent presentation skills coupled with teaching at adult levels, Methodical knowledge of the newest procurement and supply chain industry trends, Competent is procurement of goods, works and services in the entire supply chain, Strong decision making and analytical skills, Capability to influence others and shift toward a common goal or vision, Knowledge and experience of change administration standards and methodologies, Excellent accounting skills in bookkeeping Excellent listening skills.Very knowledgeable and skillful in financial management, program design including system development, program implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Good working skills in Microsoft office applications and accounting software (Pastel, SAP)

My areas of expertise are Procurement Policy Formulation, Procurement Development & Regulations, Public Procurement law, Supply chain management, Contract Development and Management, Procurement Tendering Processes, Financial Management, Bookkeeping and Accounting, Payroll - Salary Scale development and implementations, Staff training in Job attitudes and performance, Public Sector Accounting, Training Of Procurement Modules for Public and Private Organization.

I am readily available to assist your organization to make a change in these areas. I assure of Value-For-Money.

The best is yet to come. Keep on trusting and praising God.

Email: [email protected].