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Achieving greatness: the stories of a two inspiring personalities
An anonymous author once said: “Don’t wait until you’ve reached your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud of every step you take towards reaching the goal.”
In this edition, we merge the stories of two personalities who have challenged themselves and continue to excel in their respective fields. They are Dr. Jamal Browne and Thabo Dithakgwe.
Dr. Jamal Browne
He is an International Development Expert, Writer, and Motivational Speaker who continues to excel in his chosen field while inspiring others to do same.
He once accepted a job where the salary was “so small” that it barely covered his basic monthly financial obligations. The job market was tough, and he had grown “incredibly impatient.”
But little did he know that those experiences would become a turning point in his life and career. In a recently LinkedIn post, Mr Browne recounted how “grateful and enthusiastic” he was about his first job but later started feeling “undervalued, forgotten, and unfulfilled.”
However, he quickly changed his perspective and started “thanking God” for “His provision.” Month later, he received an “unexpected job offer” from a reputable global organisation offering an “unbelievable compensation package.”
“Through that experience, I learnt to be: grateful for small blessings; patient as I wait; humble through my pain; and hopeful amidst disappointment,” he said.
He admitted that difficult moments were meant to “bring the best out of us, even as we avail ourselves of systematic, intentional learning and character development.”
In 2008, he received his Bachelors Degree (Hons) in Surveying and Land Information from The University of the West Indies in Trinidad & Tobago, and thereafter joined the public service in his native Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
In 2011, he returned to the University of the West Indies to pursue a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil), with a focus on Land Tenure Security and Disaster Risk Reduction.
In February 2014, he successfully upgraded to Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
In June 2014, he joined the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) as a Consultant Project Officer at the agency’s headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya; and in January 2015, was among the first cohort of scholars of the Canadian Government-funded EKACDM Scholarship.
In June 2015, he launched Land and Property Network – a Caribbean-based start-up within the global land and property sector that works with governments, international development and civil society organisations, and the private sector in addressing land administration and land governance issues.
He is an alumnus of President Barack Obama’s Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI), having served as a Professional Fellow in the initiative’s inaugural cohort (2016).
On November 17, 2016, Dr. Browne successfully defended his doctoral research at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago.
Dr. Browne is an emotionally intelligent and inspirational Team Leader, People’s Manager, Mentor, and Cross-cultural Communicator. He has about 12 years industry experience in Content Marketing, Internal and External Communications, Public & Press Relations and Digital Media.
He has developed communications strategies for major public and private entities and also has experience also in Digital Storytelling & Film Production.
In addition to Social Media and Digital Media Management, he again has experience in Brand Management, Customer Relationship Management, Web Analytics and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
Over the years, he has served as a keynote speaker at numerous graduation and prize-giving ceremonies, and has chaired international fora on Land & Property Rights. He has made presentations at numerous international and regional conferences.
Having shown great interest in the art of public speaking from a very early age, Dr, Browne has spent most of his life developing this skill.
He considers public speaking a platform for “sharing messages of hope with audiences that are more likely to respond to the spoken word.” He urges individuals not to despise the difficulties and pains of life’s journey.
“Embrace and appreciate the fact that you are making an effort, giving of your best everyday, and that the reward for your sacrifices and faith is assured,” he noted.
Thabo Dithakgwe
He is a 21-year-old South Africa’s youngest Livestock Farmer, Entrepreneur, Mentor and Public Speaker. He became a farmer at the age of 13 when his father gifted him a pregnant cow.
When the heifer gave birth, he nurtured the calf for 18 months and sold it to another farmer at a reasonable price and reinvested the money.
In 2015, at age 14, he received his Identification Livestock Certificate from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, enabling him to become a Commercial Farmer.
In 2020, while managing Constable Farm, he received a farm from the state, amounting to about 2,400 hectares, in the Morokweng Area, South Africa.
“I farm with cattle, sheep and goats. With the cattle, I do few other breed which I buy locally. And then with goats, I mainly specialise in boer goat. For sheep, I do crossbreed,” Thabo said.
“I am working towards diversifying into poultry and crop farming. I would also like to create about 50 permanent jobs for local unemployed residents and to bring investors on board which will help me help other striving young farmers,” he added.
By Ernest Nutsugah
-Additional files from landportal.org & Women Power Africa
FEW miles from Damongo, in Ghana’s Savannah Region, is Nyange, a place which is divided by a busy major road from Tamale to Sawla, which looks abandoned because of the ruins of the buildings, but holds a history vast enough to have once anchored an entire kingdom.
Long before Damongo became the administrative heartbeat of Gonjaland, Nyange served as the spiritual and political centre of the Gonja Kingdom, the original seat of the Yagbonwura, home to ancestral palaces, ritual grounds, and the rituals that shaped kings.
For decades, Nyange drifted into silence, but after Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, the King and Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, announced intentions to reconstruct elements of the old capital, I felt compelled to visit to see for myself what remained of this sacred landscape, and to understand why its revival matters now.
Walking through Nyange, I met a woman who we spent some time narrating briefly the unspoken chapters of Nyange history. The land according to her, still holds the outlines of what once defined a kingdom—the Gonja, the stone foundations of ancient palaces, sacred groves where rituals once echoed, and open courtyards where chiefs, land priests, and kingmakers shaped the affairs of the state—and the empty bricks and white dotted paint that host every late and Yagbonwura.
Nyange was the original home of the Ndewura Jakpa Palace, a towering symbol of power that stood until 1944, when Yagbonwura Awusi Ewuntomah of Daboya transferred the royal seat to Damongo. The administrative centre moved but Nyange’s spiritual authority never left.
Where Every King Begins and Ends His Journey
My visit revealed why no Gonja story is complete without Nyange. Its significance is anchored in traditions still observed today.
When a Yagbonwura passes, the first funerary rituals begin in Nyange before the body travels to the Royal Mausoleum in Mankuma. The journey follows an ancient path that deliberately avoids Sawla—a tradition safeguarded for generations.
Rites That Begin a Reign
In 2023, whiles covering the enskinment of the Yagbonwura, he first arrives in Nyange to begin his sacred initiation, where every Yagbonwura has to start the initiation.
These rites, performed only here, link the new king to the ancestry of Ndewura Jakpa. For centuries, Nyange was the permanent residence of successive Yagbonwuras, where its soil is layered with leadership, legacy, and the quiet footsteps of royalty.
A Heritage Landscape Waiting to Be Reimagined
As we moved through the community, it became clear that Nyange holds immense potential for cultural tourism, research, and documentation.
Still visible across the landscape are the ruins of palaces occupied by ancient Yagbonwuras, the tomb of Wasipewura Chinchanko of Daboya, remains of the stone palace of Yagbonwura Mahama Dagbonga of Bole, enskinment sites, sacred burial grounds, the Nyange Forest Reserve—long known for trees used in crafting royal coffins—and the homes of key custodians, including Nyangewura and Land Priest Vogu Jamani.
Nyange’s proximity to Mole National Park makes it ideal for an eco-cultural tourism circuit, weaving together wildlife, architecture, oral history, drumming, dance, and the lived memory of the Gonja people.
Local leaders are already discussing the creation of heritage trails, interpretive centres, and storytelling experiences led by community custodians.
Just beyond Nyange lies Larabanga, home to one of West Africa’s oldest Sudano-Sahelian mosques. Together, these two communities could anchor a cultural corridor capable of drawing visitors from across the world.
Larabanga offers architectural and religious significance, whiles Nyange offers political and spiritual heritage. Together, they tell a complete story of identity, power, belief, and continuity.
As I spoke with some people in Nyange, I could feel both urgency and hope, when they outlined a clear vision for the future by the efforts of the Yagbonwura to restore palace ruins, document sacred sites, establish cultural education and preservation programme, and develop sustainable tourism models that benefit residents.
But more than infrastructure, they spoke of identity—emphasising that, “our history is here.”
Leaving Nyange, I carried with me the feeling of a place on the brink of transformation, the past lingers in its broken walls and ancient pathways, but the future feels within reach—guided by royal leadership, community pride, and the quiet determination to revive a forgotten capital.
Nyange is not simply being restored, rather it is being reclaimed. And as the reconstruction efforts begin, the world may soon witness the rebirth of a capital that once shaped a kingdom and is ready to do so again.
From Geoffrey Buta, Nyange.
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Every morning begins the same way for Edwina Anokye-Bempah, with quiet devotion. It is her grounding ritual, a moment of reflection and gratitude before she steps into the dynamic, often unpredictable world of real estate brokerage.
By the time she arrives at the office, she has already set the tone for her day. She reviews the previous day’s tasks, checks what was accomplished and what still needs attention, and then drafts a new to-do list. For her, success is rooted in deliberate planning, discipline, and the commitment to follow through.
Today, Edwina stands out as one of Ghana’s promising real estate brokers, but she is also clear about the distinctions within her field. While many people casually use the term ‘realtor,’ she is quick to explain that only professionals registered with the National Association of Realtors can claim that title.
“Since I am not registered with the association, I am a real estate broker,” she says. It is a role she embraces wholeheartedly, facilitating transactions, connecting buyers and sellers, and ensuring clarity and integrity at every step.
Her journey into the industry took shape at MeQasa, an online platform dedicated solely to real estate. The platform exposed her to developers, agents, and the complexities of property transactions. She worked closely with developers and observed one recurring problem: clients often complained about agents who failed to respond, follow up, or provide accurate information.
With her background in sales and marketing, Edwina felt naturally drawn to the field. It was an industry where she believed she could make a meaningful, positive impact. Real estate, she came to learn, is far more than brick and mortar. It is about helping people secure one of the most important investments of their lives. This understanding shapes every decision she makes.
One of the most challenging tasks in her work is qualifying clients.
“A serious buyer must be willing, ready and able,” she explains. When one of these three qualities is missing, the transaction is likely to stall or collapse entirely.
On the seller’s side, due diligence is equally critical. Ownership disputes, land fraud, and unclear documentation remain some of the biggest risks in Ghana’s real estate sector.
Edwina understands the weight of the responsibility she carries. “The money involved is huge. These are people’s lifetime savings. Most people buy one home or maybe two in their entire lives. You cannot afford to make a mistake.”
Working in what many describe as a male-dominated field has never intimidated her. With an MBA in Marketing and extensive experience in sales roles including a stint as an Account Manager in an advertising agency, she has grown comfortable handling clients, negotiating deals, and presenting herself with confidence.
“My gender has never discouraged me,” she says. “What matters is hard work and ensuring that the client’s needs were met.”
The only occasional challenge, she admits, was maintaining professional boundaries when some men attempt to be overly familiar. Her solution is simple: stay professional and do not over-familiarise yourself with clients.
Her educational journey started in Kumasi, followed by Yaa Asantewaa Girls’ Senior High School, where she studied Agricultural Science. She continued the same at the University of Ghana before pursuing her master’s degree. After university, she worked on her uncle’s poultry farm before moving into advertising. Later, her role at MeQasa finally opened the door to the career she had long been unknowingly preparing for.
Over the years, Edwina has built a reputation not only for competence but also for care. She recalls one client in particular, an older man relocating to Ghana with no family in the country. After helping him secure two homes, she became the closest person he could rely on. One evening at around 8 p.m., he called to say he felt unwell. Without hesitation, she drove to his home and rushed him to the hospital. Doctors later told her that any delay could have been fatal.
For Edwina, that moment affirmed that the job goes far beyond selling property. “It doesn’t end with the sale,” she says. “You have to look out for people.”
Her influence also extends to younger people observing her journey. She is known for her tenacity, her refusal to give up on clients or tasks, and her resilience in the face of challenges. Those who work around her learn to push forward regardless of setbacks.
“If a deal doesn’t go as expected, you don’t look back. You find a way.”
Beyond real estate, Edwina serves as an interpreter in her church, a role that dramatically boosted her confidence. What began with trembling legs has evolved into a boldness that reflects in her public speaking and client interactions. She credits her growth to God, her senior pastor, her mother, siblings, friends, and her dedicated team — “an amazing circle,” she calls them.
Today, she is also a partner in a showroom business dealing in vanity units, sanitary wares, and tiles, an extension of her real estate insight and experience.
For young people aspiring to join the industry, her advice is clear: “Learn the industry beyond selling. Understand transactions, build strong relationships, and always do your due diligence.”
For Edwina Anokye-Bempah, real estate is more than business; it is trust, service, and impact, one client at a time.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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