I was overwhelmed with emotion when I was called for the awards – UEW graduate

Climbing the educational ladder in the absence of biological parents can sometimes be difficult but to Ephraim Tetteh Alimo, a 26-year-old graduate from the University of Education Winneba, the death of both parents at age 7 couldn’t deter him from achieving his academic goal.

Mr. Alimo Tetteh was among the 15,817 students who participated in the 28th congregation ceremony at UEW on Wednesday, January 24, 2024.

At the graduation, the persevered graduate received four awards which include; the Council Chairman’s Award for Best Graduating Student at the School of Business, Winneba, Prof. Christopher A. Okpoti- First Dean of the School of Business Award for Best Graduating Student at the School of Business, Winneba, Finance Officer’s Award for the Overall Best Undergraduate Accounting Student and The Institute of Chartered Accountants(ICAG) Award for the Overall Best Male Accounting Student.

The latest award that has been added to Ephraim is the scholarship to write the ICAG professional examination without any payment.

Despite the achievements of the young graduate, recalling the death of his parents made him very sad during the presentation of the awards.

“Actually, when they mentioned my name for the first time, my eyes were very heavy with tears because my parents weren’t around to witness this moment,” Ephraim noted in an exclusive interview with The Ghana Report.

Ephraim who hails from Anyaman, a District in the Ada West in the Greater Accra Region revealed that after the death of his parents, life became unbearable.

Along the line, his elder sister, Martha Adjeley Huago and Rev. Theodore Agormeda Tetteh, Head pastor of Royal House Chapel, Dansoman Assembly came in to support his educational career.

“At times, I have to absent myself from school just to go fishing in order to save some money for my daily upkeep. By the grace of God, I passed through those challenging moments, and I was able to complete JHS in the year 2014. I proceeded to continue my second cycle education at Saint John’s Grammar Senior High School, Achimota which I also completed successfully with good grades in the year 2017”.

“Getting admission into university was very difficult since my guardian was unable to generate money for my tertiary education. I got admitted in the years 2017 and 2018, but because I couldn’t afford to pay for my fees I had to stay back. I found myself a teaching job for which I was able to save something small. I applied to the University of Education Winneba in the year 2019 to pursue a Bachelor of Business Admission (Accounting) because of the affordability of their fees and with the help of my sister (Martha Adjeley Huago) and support from Rev. Theodore Agormeda Tetteh (Head pastor of Royal House Chapel, Dansoman Assembly) I was able to pay my fees for this time. I had to perch with my brother as a first-year student for accommodation”.

He added; “Not giving up on my dream to become a Chartered Accountant, after gaining admission, I decided to focus on the ICAG Scholarship to charter at no fee when you complete with a First-Class, so I devoted all my time to my books, and this is how far the Lord has brought me.

“I have come to the realisation that whatever you set your mind to achieve can be possible if you channel all your efforts into it and add God to it”.