People from humble backgrounds who, through hard work, achieve success in their careers and businesses should make deliberate efforts to mentor the next generation in their communities.
This is one of the most effective ways to help alleviate poverty in deprived communities, while encouraging young people to work hard and pursue their dreams without giving up.
The advice was given by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of FirstBank Ghana, Victor Asante, during the launch of the biography Favour on the Jamestown Boy in Accra.
The book chronicles the life story of Dr Alex Aggrey Walker, who grew up in Jamestown, a fishing community in Accra, and despite a bad start, limitations and obstacles, has gone on to climb up both the academic and professional ladder, now a scholar and a management consultant.
Despite the challenges of his early years in Jamestown, where there were few self-made role models, he secured an opportunity to work at a bank with just an Ordinary Level Certificate.
He then maximised those opportunities to further his education and steadily built both his academic credentials and professional career.
Mr Asante said the book not only reflected Dr Walker's life story, but it was one that narrated the story of many others who had not dared to pen their experiences down, and also a necessary documented evidence to guide today's generation not to give up, irrespective of their circumstances.
Motivation
The Presiding Bishop of the Victory Bible Church International, Rt Rev. Nii Apiakai Tackie-Yarboi, while endorsing the book, said the unpalatable part of any success story required one to go through the mill.
“This is a motivational piece to all persons who assert life has been unfair to them. From hindsight, one can clearly observe that the challenges of life are not necessarily evil.
The build-up to a successful life is a process and progress to the zenith; it requires you to go through the mill.
This is a testament of God's ability to transform a shipwrecked life into a success story," Rt Rev. Tackie-Yarboi stated.
The Author
Alex Aggrey Walker said when he impregnated a girl at age 19 and still in secondary school, he thought his dream was going to die as he had compounded his situation, already struggling in a community where opportunities were scarce, and education was a luxury he could hardly afford.
He had to survive by juggling his life of schooling and selling fried pork to support the young mother and child he had fathered without a plan.
"However, by sheer grit and perseverance, I clawed my way back into the world of banking, where, despite the steep learning curve, I learnt and grew with each step.
"By writing the book, I share the wisdom gained from my experiences, to guide others through their own struggles and help them in their own paths to fulfilment.
"My story is one of hope and proof that even an Ordinary Level certificate holder, or in these times, a WASSCE certificate holder from the seaside can succeed," he said.
Dr Walker said the book was not just about recounting his achievements, but it was a testament to the power of resilience, faith and unwavering belief that no matter how humble your beginnings might be, you had to believe in your own potential that you can make it.
