25 years of stories to be told. Where do I even begin?
Exactly 25 years ago I returned to Ghana as a lecturer of the University of Ghana, after many years abroad. I had no appointment letter when I arrived, but I had promised to come, so I did, uprooting my young family from everything familiar to an uncertain future. I assumed duty as the first full-time Ghanaian female lecturer in the Department of Physics on June 1, 2001. There was no Engineering at Legon, I had arrived to help start it.
In the past 25 years, I have shed some tears, I have had amazing experiences and I have seen big dreams come to life. I have taught many young and not so young people, helped to develop multiple new academic programmes, and hopefully made a positive impact in the lives of a majority of the people with whom I have interacted.
I am grateful to Emeritus Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah who recruited me when he was Vice-Chancellor and kept his promise to initiate the process of starting Engineering at Legon.
Thanks to the School of Engineering Sciences and the University of Ghana for giving me a home to build a professional identity. Thanks to National Science and Maths Quiz Ghana for the visibility.
Thanks to my family, including my late father, that stood by me in the early years and has continued to be a solid pillar to date. Thanks to the mentors and friends who have supported me over the years. Thanks to even those who did not or still do not understand my journey. I have grown through all the experiences.
I look forward with great anticipation to what comes next. And yes, I will start telling the stories…properly.