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Fauzeeya Jamal-Deen speaks on grabbing multiple awards at UNIMAC-GIJ
Fauzeeya Jamal-Deen
Fauzeeya Jamal-Deen is the first of four girls. Her mother is a trader and her father was a clearing agent at Tema. Setting out on her educational journey, she had always exhibited strong potentials and determination to attain the highest academic qualification possible.
After her basic and secondary education at Mars Complex School and St. Rose’s Senior High, she gained admission to study at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and also received a partial scholarship to study at Calvin University in the United States of America (USA) but could not enroll due to financial challenges.
Her father was diagnosed of a chronic disease hence his inability to support the family financially as he used to do while in active service. The situation, therefore, required Fauzeeya joining her mother at the market as they work hard to support the rest of the family and also settle medical expenses.
While selling, she was still focused on pursuing higher education and the financial difficulties did not deter her from chasing her dreams at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, now University of Media, Arts and Culture (UNIMAC-GIJ) where she recently graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (Journalism).
She did not only graduate with First Class but also won three separate awards. She was adjudged Best Student in Broadcast Journalism, Best Student in Journalism, and Best Female Student in Journalism.
Hurdles
In an interview with The Spectator recently, the young graduate spoke about overcoming hurdles at different stages in her academic journey and how she wants her story to inspire young girls in similar situations.
She recalled gaining admission to GIJ at a “difficult time in her life” when she did not have the resources to settle her admission fees as a fresher.
After gaining admission, she was supposed to pay at least 60 percent of the fees (2, 400 cedis) at the time in order to complete student registration processes on campus.
She said her mother’s business was collapsing at time but a customer had provided 1,000 cedis to be re-invested in the business but her mother offered the cash as part payment of the admission fees, although it was not up to the 60 percent required.
“One day, I got to campus and Auntie Vera (one of the staff at the academic affairs) ask if I had paid for the fees and if I knew the next day was the deadline for payment.
“Upon hearing that the following day was the deadline, I was disturbed and feared I could drop out of school again. But kind heartedly, Auntie Vera helped me settle my fees for the first year and helped me apply for the MTN Bright Scholarship,” she noted.
This benevolence enabled Fauzeeya to continue her studies and although the four year period came with its own challenges she was able to sail through the rough terrain.
Motivation
Attributing part of her success to God and her family and Auntie Vera, she said her motivation came from the commitment to maintain her scholarship and also make her parents proud.
“When I started school, the goal was to just graduate come what may. I did not think I was going to get any award at that time but Alhamdulillah (God) gave me what I wanted and more.
“I wasn’t expecting to receive all the awards. Based on my performance, I knew I would receive at least one award but others came to as a surprise.” I knew other first class students could equally win awards that was why I was not too keen on grabbing the ultimate,” she stated.
The awards mean a lot to Fauzeeya who is now a Teaching Assistant at Ghana Institute of Journalism. She believes it was a true reflection of her hard work, persistence and determination. She is confident it would enable her to attain greater heights in her career and other endeavours in future.
She urges young girls to develop a winning mindset and not allow unpredictable circumstances of life keep them down. She mentioned Mr. Elvis Darko, the Editor of The Finder Newspaper, Mr. Benard Avle, General Manager of Citi FM/ Citi TV, Emefa Apawu, a Presenter at Multimedia and few other media personalities as some of her role models in journalism.
By George Obeng Osei
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
