"True mentors have this unique ability to pick up vibes that everyone else misses from within you"
Ahmad K. Razi
Background and Academics
Anthony Dankwah is my name. I am 21 years old and Ghanaian by birth. I was born and nurtured by two farmers, and I am my father's eleventh and final child, but the first to access tertiary education. I am currently a second-year undergraduate student at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) studying Agriculture. I grew up in a farming community, so I developed a tremendous passion for agriculture. As a child, I promised myself that if I get the chance to go to school, I would change my parents' farming methods or systems. Even though I was a senior high school General Science student, it was always my goal to be resourceful for the community and the entire nation.
In 2018, I lost my father, who was my mentor, my motivator, and my best friend. He always told me, "Tony, you're a gift to the world." With this always in mind, it is my goal to climb the academic ladder to the highest level as a professor in my area of study. I believe in the transformation that comes with the change of an individual's mindset. I view the world as a stage of the opportunity given by God to man to depict the best of himself, because the world after this earth does not need our gift. Thus my gift can only be utilized here. Aside from God, what I cherish most in life is knowledge, because knowledge is power.
I aspire to become a professional and proficient agriculturist who will bequeath scientific knowledge and wonderful methodological approaches to farming to impact my generation's ability to make a comfortable living on earth. Aside from this academic/professional goal, I have a great passion for entrepreneurship.
My Talent
When I was a young boy, I was mislabeled as talkative until I started school, when my teachers were blown away by my talent. When I see people on high podiums talking and sharing ideas with others, I get so excited, and I always wished I was one of them. Because of this desire, I chose to give a speech at the 75th anniversary of my primary school when I was only eleven years old. On Children's Day, at the age of twelve, I stood in front of our entire congregation and shared the word of God. Since I enjoy public speaking, I make it a point to read widely and conduct additional research in order to improve my knowledge and communication skills.
Mentorship
Many people have mentored me in life. In the area of my gifts, the late Dr. Myles Munroe was a terrific mentor to me. In addition to him, my pastors, teachers, and speakers have been great mentors. It is my greatest aim to use my skills to bring hope to the hopeless, courage to the disheartened, and a sense of possibilities to the entire world. I enjoy reading books on inspiration, leadership, and business. I also enjoy writing about my profession and viewing documentaries about it.
Leadership
Another area of special interest for me is leadership. I believe I was born to lead, so I began leading at the age of eleven. In my primary and junior high schools, I was the main head boy (prefect). I began as a Sunday school teacher and later advanced to the position of local church secretary. In Senior High school, I was the president of the campus PENSA Students' Association and the general secretary of the school's Science Students' Association.
Currently, I am the founder and leader of the Rural Education Development (RED) Foundation Ghana, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting schools in underserved areas. I am also the African University Student Platforms' minister for membership, admissions, and scholarships (AUSP). In my community, I am the Secretary of the local youth movement. I admire leaders and leadership. I believe that everyone on the earth is a master of his or her gift, making them leaders.
EQUiP
Being a part of MeetMentors is a fantastic opportunity for me at this point in my life. There would be no leadership without mentorship, and there would be no growth without leadership. I am overjoyed to have been chosen for EQUiP 2022.
EQUiP is a talent and leadership focused training, designed to prepare young Africans to live intentionally and purposefully, while impacting the lives of others. From the entire team at MeetMentors and your colleagues in EQUiP 2022, we wish you all the best.