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My motivation was to achieve the best results – Overall Best Graduating Student
● Ms. Abigail Nyamekye
You can get what you want if you really work hard towards it. These are the motivational words of Miss Abigail Nyamekye Hagan, a 22-year-old lady who emerged the Overall Best Graduating Student from the Faculty of Management Studies of the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) on September 8, 2022.
With a First Class Honours in Bachelor of Business Administration, she earned a final cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.72.
The name Abigail, means “father’s joy” and that was exactly the feeling Mr. Ernest Hagan, an Operations Manager, had on that day when the gathering gave his daughter a thunderous applause.
In an interview with The Spectator last Saturday, Miss Nyamekye described the feeling of coming out with flying colours as overwhelming and exciting, adding that it was “a great achievement.”
She said her motivation throughout her schooling was to “achieve the best results.”
The product of Pentecost Preparatory School at Madina continued her education at the Ghana National College where she studied Business and gained admission to further her education in Business Administration at the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA).
Miss Hagan said she was determined to make a statement that every girl-child should be given an opportunity to go to school and, therefore, encouraged all parents to support their children.
She said that, going to lectures from home was quite challenging, coupled with sleepless nights, putting time and effort into ensuring that she met deadlines for assignments among others, had paid off to be the best of 1,121 graduating students.
Miss Abigail Nyamekye Hagan as her middle name suggests is a gift from God and as James 1 verse 17 says, “every good and perfect gift is from above.”
It was not surprising that she exhibited virtues such as discipline, integrity, perseverance and tenacity to help her achieve her goals.
The Valedictorian stressed the need for the graduating students to be focused as they ventured into the world.
With a grateful heart, she commended parents who invested in their children’s education and applauded lecturers and all those whose role had in one way or the other impacted positively on their lives.
The next time you see Abigail, she is likely to be doing her Master’s Degree in Project Management because that is her aspiration.
Her hobbies are learning about new things and watching movies.
Mr. Ernest Hagan also told The Spectator that as a parent, he felt very excited and proud of her daughter’s success.
“It is not easy to achieve such an accomplishment yet she persevered and now, her efforts have been recognised as the best student,” he said.
He said as a father, he treated all his three children comprising two daughters and a son equally by giving them the opportunity to get higher education.
“I think the education of girls should be given same priority as boys. This is because as Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey said, if you educate a boy, you educate an individual but if you educate a girl, you educate a nation and I am a strong advocate of this quote,” he said.
The Operations Manager recalled how he sometimes took loans to pay his children’s school fees and confidently said that it was worth it because at the end of the day, their future was secured.
He said every parent should have confidence in their daughters and give them whatever support they needed to be the best among the rest. He expressed appreciation to God for making everything possible.
As the late former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela said, “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world ” and so for Mr. Hagan, every parent must do his or her best to give his or her child that weapon.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema.
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Salamatu Ahmed, Ghana’s only female Hausa sports broadcaster
In a field long dominated by men, she has turned her microphone into a tool for change, amplifying women’s voices, promoting gender equality, and challenging deep-rooted stereotypes in sports journalism.
In Ghana’s media landscape, especially in the arena of sports, Salamatu Ahmed stands out. Not just as the host of Iqra Radio’s popular morning show, but as the country’s only female Hausa sports broadcaster.
From humble beginnings in Lagos to an influential voice behind the microphone in Accra, her journey is one of boldness, resilience, and purpose.
“I grew up in a close-knit neighbourhood in Lagos where everyone looked out for each other,” she recalled in an interview with The Spectator on Monday. “There was no discrimination. I could enter any house, share a meal or even sleep over without raising eyebrows. That spirit of unity shaped my values.”
She said, her love for broadcasting was sparked by her father, who was an athlete and devoted news watcher. Her father loved sports and news and recounted how she used to sit with him, watching the newscasters and wondering how they memorised so much.
“I later found out they used a teleprompter-what a relief!” she said with a laughter.
Salamatu’s passion for football heightened during the France ‘98 World Cup. “I watched almost all the matches. That tournament made me fall completely in love with the game,” she said.
But it was not until years later that broadcasting became a real career path-and quite unexpectedly.
She recounted how a friend of hers was managing Hijra TV asked her if she knew anyone who could do Hausa sports for the TV station.
She grabbed the opportunity as she was not working at the time, saying “so I offered myself,” she explained. “That was how it all started.” From Hijra TV, she moved on to Baina TV and eventually found her home at Iqra Radio.
Though her original dream was to become an English-language sports anchor, Hausa unexpectedly became her breakthrough. “People always ask how I manage to do it in Hausa, and the fascinating part is I am a woman doing it. That’s what truly sets it apart.”
But the journey has not been without hurdles. As a woman in sports media, she has had to fight for access and respect.
“It is always difficult getting interviews. Some male counterparts do not like sharing contacts or information,” she said.
Salamatu recounted how early on, men would ask for sexual favours in exchange for job opportunities. She said it got so discouraging that she left job-hunting for a while and ventured into business instead.
Now firmly established in her field, she uses her platform not only to cover sports, but to push for systemic change. As a panelist on various forums and a vocal supporter of women’s football, Salamatu has advocated for increased investment, better pay, and more opportunities for female athletes.
“Why should male footballers be paid more for doing the same job?” she quizzed during the conversation. “Female athletes often do not get bonuses or incentives that make life easier for them. People label us feminists for speaking out-but isn’t it just fairness?”
She also spoke passionately about how female athletes face scrutiny that goes beyond performance. “Look at Barbara Banda of Zambia; she faced criticism for being too ‘masculine.’ Imane Khelif, the Algerian boxer, faced similar discrimination. It’s disheartening. People forget these women are excelling at their craft.”
In 2024, Salamatu’s influence reached the global stage when she was selected to represent Ghana at the Fourth Eurasian Women’s Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia. There, she joined other global leaders in conversations about empowering women in media, politics, and business.
“That experience showed me that our voices matter beyond our borders,” she said. “We are not just fighting for recognition here; we are part of a global movement.”
Away from the microphone, Salamatu is known for her bubbly personality. “I am a fun-loving person-anything fun, count me in! I love cooking, watching movies, and reading.”
She credits her background-a Muslim from a Zango family for instilling in her resilience and discipline.
After schooling in Lagos, she moved to Ghana and earned a diploma in Communication Studies from the African University College of Communications (AUCC), now African University of Communication and Business (AUCB).
Her greatest pride is being the only female voice doing Hausa sports broadcasting in Ghana.
“Until someone else comes along, I will keep holding this fort,” she said with a smile. “It is my biggest achievement so far.”
For young girls looking up to her, she urged them never to be intimidated but rather carve a niche for themselves and be unique.
“You do not have to sound like or look like everyone else. Just be you and be excellent,” she added.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Profile
Fiator Mordeku III of Awudome Tsito — The bridge builder in chieftaincy and architecture
Fiator Mordeku III of Tsito, known in private life as Kafui Kwame Amegbe, is a unique blend of tradition, service, and modern professionalism.
As a chief, an architect, and a community development advocate, he wears his many hats with humility, driven by a powerful dual motivation: a deep desire to serve and preserve his family’s legacy, and to play an active role in creating positive change in society.
picture with winners of the Energy Commission
High School renewal energy challenge
From a young age, Kafui’s life has been guided by strong values rooted in communal living.
Growing up in a close-knit family and community, he experienced firsthand the power of shared responsibility-where neighbours became second parents, and village elders doubled as life coaches.
Speaking to The Spectator in Accra on Saturday, Fiator Mordeku Ill said one childhood memory that continues to inspire him is when Togbe Gobo Dake XII, Chief of Tsito, bought him a slate for his first day in school.
Today, he serves as Fiator (father to Togbe Gobo Dake XII) to his childhood benefactor-a powerful circle of legacy and service.
“I was enstooled in my late 30s, so this journey is still quite fresh-just under two years in,” he said, by many standards that is considered quite young, especially given the weight and complexity of traditional leadership.
Tsito during his coronation
But I have always believed that leadership is not about how old you are; it is about preparation, mentorship, vision and most importantly, a desire to serve.
According to him, becoming a chief at a young age came with immense responsibility, saying “chieftaincy can be complex and sometimes misunderstood, but my family played a key role in preparing me.”
On the day of his enstoolment, he stood composed, not because it was easy, but because he was aware of the expectations ahead.
The reality, however, only sank in later-when the calls, community issues, and needs began pouring in. For him, leadership is not about titles but about providing proactive and adaptive leadership that reflects the needs of today’s fast-changing society.
Fiator’s reliability with the youth is a defining feature of his reign. “I am not far from the Gen Zs,” he says.
This closeness, according to him, enables him to connect with young people on a peer level, encouraging them to engage in community initiatives and understand the importance of preserving tradition. It is this connection that empowers him to blend traditional authority with modern innovation.
Outside of chieftaincy, Kafui is a passionate architect and advocate of sustainable design.
His love for designing spaces began as early as Junior Secondary School, and today, he continues to inspire with thoughtful architecture that focuses on sustainability, community needs, and the intelligent use of local materials.
To him, architecture is about how people interact with spaces, and one of his proudest contributions is his role in the design of the new Regional House of Chiefs projects across Ghana’s six new regions-a national undertaking that incorporated diverse stakeholder inputs.
His work as an architect and a chief converges in one of his most symbolic projects-a small concrete bridge he built behind his house.
It replaced a dangerous makeshift path used by locals, especially the elderly, to cross a storm drain.
“Now people walk across without fear. That one act of building a bridge, literally and symbolically, pushed me to think more deeply about the many quiet struggles people go through,” he said.
This bridge became the foundation for his greater calling – providing not just charity, but dignity and equity.
Through the Footprints of Glory Foundation, which he founded in 2020 and officially registered in 2021, Kafui has launched impactful initiatives across Tsito and the wider Awudome area.
From funding school fees and apprenticeships to constructing small community bridges and launching an online radio station (soon to become a full community station), the foundation has been a lifeline for many.
It is supported by respected individuals like Dr Yao-Foli Sekyema and Mr Michael Brefo. The foundation’s success lies in collaboration and shared purpose.
A touching example of his impact is the story of a young boy from a neighbouring village who, due to financial hardship, was working on farms despite being a top student. Fiator took him in, supported his education, and
today, the boy is university-bound-a story that encapsulates the spirit of his work.
“I don’t dwell much on legacy,” Fia
tor said. “My focus is on providing real, practical solutions that ease burdens and improve lives.”
Whether it’s mentoring architecture students, building community projects, or planning future academic pursuits.
Currently, he is studying for an MSc in Facilities Management with the aim of uplifting others through service, innovation, and collaboration.
He called on the youth to embrace discipline, humility and a deep willingness to keep learning, urging the youth not to be afraid of hard work or setbacks and that they were part of the journey.
“Find people who inspire you, ask questions, stay curious, and never forget your roots. Where you come from is your foundation, and it will keep you grounded no matter how far you go and we don’t have to wait until we are older to start serving.
He is married with three children and enjoys working out, playing lawn tennis, travelling, listening to music which he says helps him reflect, plan and recharge.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
