Dr. Kofi Amoah, a successful businessman and economist from Ghana, has encouraged young people in Africa to forge their own pathways to success and make an influence in their communities.
He issued a challenge to the upcoming leaders of the continent, urging them to make education, self-control, and tenacity the pillars around which they would build their path to economic success.
Dr. Amoah shared his life story with the young people who were watching X Spaces. One of the main points he made was that everyone's idea of what constitutes a successful life is different, and that this was emphasized in his speech.
Greatness in You, a non-profit organization established in the United States that serves as a mentor to African kids and works to empower them, organized the event, which was attended by close to a thousand individuals.
The well-known economist started his speech by highlighting the fact that there are many different ways to achieve success by saying, "I speak to you today to shed light on my life's journey, not for the purpose of bragging, but to serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration to all of you who may be looking for some spark to wake you up towards your own unique journey towards your own brand of success."
"Success can take on many guises; it can mean being a loving father, a humanitarian like Madam Teresa, an outstanding educator, a nurturing healthcare practitioner, a forward-thinking businessperson, or an accomplished athlete. Make your choice and allow it to guide you to a purpose and a state of fulfillment.
Dr. Amoah reflected on his formative years in Tikrom, a rural town on the outskirts of Kumasi. In Tikrom, young boys and girls shared the responsibility of cleaning the streets and public facilities on Saturdays. Dr. Amoah spent his formative years in Tikrom.
He noted that the authorities of the village punished those who failed to participate without having solid reasons accountable, which highlighted the significance of discipline and the involvement of the community.
"My early forays into money-making started as an okro farmer, and later on as a shoe shine boy plying my trade at Kejetia market in Kumasi," Dr. Amoah said in his story. "My early forays into money-making started as an okro farmer and later on as a shoe shine boy."
"The routine of searching for some dirty shoes to polish for six pence in the hot African sun, and the smile of appreciation from a satisfied customer with a tip, gave me such inner elation that I could feel my heartstrings being pulled towards the joys of reward through hard work with perspiration," says the author.
He emphasized that self-discipline and moral integrity are equally important to a person's success as financial resources are to the attainment of entrepreneurial goals.
"I was born in Ghana, Nigeria, or Kenya just as you were. Because Africa is in me, it must also be in you. Therefore, I can state with absolute certainty that whatever minuscule success I have obtained, the greater success that our brother Aliko Dangote of Nigeria has acquired, or the success that our brother Philip Ndegwa of Kenya has acquired, you too can acquire if that is in line with your goals and dreams," he guaranteed.
When Dr. Amoah reflected on his educational path, he emphasized the significance of lifelong education, stating that it served as the compass that led him in the right direction and made it possible for him to have a positive impact on the countries of Ghana and Africa.
In addition to this, he spoke about the difficulties that young Africans will undoubtedly experience in the future and made the observation that "you will encounter obstacles on your journey to success as I and others invariably have, but you must remain undeterred." You must come to terms with the fact that failure is nothing more than a stepping stone on the path to success.
"I can say, in all modesty, that I have made contributions to the business landscape of Ghana and Africa, creating jobs across the continent with multi-billion-dollar foreign exchange inflows as a result of my pioneering role in the establishment of remittance service to Africa," he said. "I have been able to do this through my role as a pioneer in the establishment of remittance service to Africa."
Dr. Amoah emphasized the importance of making adequate investments in sports, namely football, which has the potential to generate a sizeable number of new jobs and to contribute to an increase in gross domestic product (GDP).
"Having talent is not enough on its own. He stated that with the appropriate infrastructure, player welfare, and administration, sports have the potential to both stimulate economic growth and bring nations together.
In order to demonstrate his dedication to the community, he urged the younger generation to participate in charitable activities.
"Make investments in the well-being of your communities, nations, and continent. He pointed out that by working together, Africans have the ability to lift each other up and create a thriving continent.
The prominent economist argued in favor of establishing venture capital funds across the continent with financial backing from the government. He emphasized that such initiatives would free up latent talent, encourage innovation, and make it easier to find solutions across a wide variety of industries.
Dr. Amoah brought his speech to a close by issuing a passionate rallying cry, urging the audience to "let education, hard work, and resilience be your guiding stars." Accept the challenge of achieving your goals, and set your sights high. Let us be guided by our joint dedication to excellence, ethics, and a better future for our dearly cherished Africa as we traverse the intricacies of the world.