Proving Potential – Daniel Assah

 
When I look back on my past, I can’t help but be reminded of all the incredible people that continually pushed me towards my potential. Even in the worst of times, there were those who saw some sort of potential in me, even though I may have felt there was none at all. It is their energy and attitude that has inspired my next idea…

A few months ago I dreamt up an idea that would not only create opportunities, but allow me to ‘give back’ for all that I have gotten over the years. It’s called the Proving Potential Investment Fund (PPIF) and the idea was developed after witnessing the unique personalities and ambitions of some local Ghanaian youth in my community, who were driven to do well. Through conversations with them I recognized that these youth have the potential to become future leaders in the community, and with some small guidance and support, can do just that. The concept is simple; I will provide coaching and financial support for individuals that, I believe, have great potential in creating a better future for them and those around them. I will guide them in creating a plan for their future and assisting them financially when necessary and reasonable.

The first individual full of potential is my good friend Daniel. His genuine personality and hard working ethic are amazing to say the least, but it is his positive attitude and ambitious outlook on life that are truly inspiring. Working almost every night at the hospital, fending for his brothers and parents, advancing his education, and playing a leadership role in his church’s community, Daniel still finds a way to crack a smile as he tells me he hasn’t been paid for the past 4 months. No matter what the situation, Daniel continuously holds onto hope and never loses sight of his aspirations to become a nurse and be the change he wants to see in his world.

But enough from me, let’s take a look at the words from Daniel himself…

MY LIFE AND CHALLENGES

My names are Asaah Nsoh Daniel. I am 23 years of age and a citizen of the republic of Ghana. I

come from the Northern part of the country. I am a graduate of senior high school in 2005.We are three boys of my parents and I am the first born. In fact, I come from a very poor background. My parents have never attained any education since the generation of my family. I and my brothers are the lucky and first people to acquire education in the family. During my education at the high school, I really went through numerous challenges which did not enhance the complete success in my final examination in the West Africa Examinations Council. This was as a result of financial and material backing from my parents.Though, upon all the challenges that confronted me, I was determined and passed 6 subjects excluding maths since I failed it. I was therefore supposed to rewrite it privately conducted the same West African examination Council to enable me pass it but that dream did not come through due to my financial situation. I therefore spoke to Ryan and he being a good friend decided to offer me the financial help of fifty two Ghana Cedis to enable me register the maths paper this year. I would miss the exam this year again if Ryan had not supported me. My focus now is to work hard to pass it in order not to disappoint Ryan and myself.

MY VISION IN LIFE

In fact, I have very great vision or foresight for humanity since I feel and understand the less privileged and the needy suffer in society especially the northern part of the country. The illiteracy rate is very high and people do not have jobs doing. I have been in the shoe and I know how it feels but I will put all effort to break the poverty circle. My Focus is to endeavour and break the poverty canker in the life of brothers, my parents and humanity who I can support within my power or resources. Life in this universe is all about supporting and creating an enabling environment for people who have great potentials and great vision but not making it into reality. Transforming the life of such people will in the near contribute massively to the development of this global economy. Myles Munroe said in his teachings that, you are not yet a blessing and successful unless you become a blessing to thousands out there. In life everyone has great contribution to the life of the disadvantaged in society. Therefore the inability of my parents to take total responsibility of due to financial problems and I being the senior son with some education thought it wise to get some temporal job as a way of raising money to support my brothers education especially since they are my main focus in the family or else their life would be worse in later years and they may engage themselves in some social vices or become deviants in society. I pay my brothers school fees every term; I buy their school uniforms, their books and learning materials to enhance effective learning. I also buy foodstuff for my parents in the village since they have no job to buy food for feeding. It’s not really easy. Though since January this year I have not received my pay yet but I hope it will come. So far all I am doing is a leadership step or role so that I can handle problems and find solutions to them in future. All these are temporal setbacks I am very optimistic that one day, I will use my life experience to inspire and change peoples life. My problem and worry now is how I can care for my brothers since they are all in the junior high and will soon be enrolled into senior high school after passing their exams. I wish at least my Mum or Dad had something doing like trading to help our education but it is unfortunate. I therefore took a decision to raise some money for my Dad to buy goats, sheep, and fowls to start rearing. The rearing of these animals will serve as a source of money to solve some problems in the family since we can catch some and sell if they multiply their off springs abundantly. I discussed that vision with him already and we all came to a comprehensive conclusion. Hunger in the northern sector is very high especially during dry season. I come from a village called Vea and we have a small Dam for irrigation but most farmers are not able go into irrigation farming due to financial problems. I therefore want to help people go into irrigation farming if I get the necessary resources to support me. I will lend the money out in the form of soft loans so that after the farming and everything you pay back so that the money will go into bank account for other farmers who may want to also enter irrigation farming but lacks the resources. This is a method of reinvestment. This will help solve some financial and feeding problems of our poor farmers and illiterates who sit ideal at home. I have numerous initiatives but they cannot be implemented if the necessary resources are not in place. All that can enhance the reality of this vision is to be equipped with adequate resources both financially and materially.

 

MY PRESENT STATUS

Presently, I have been employed into a hospital as a ward assistant. I started working in the hospital on September 2007. Actually, it is not easy to secure job in recent times due to lack of jobs in the system. But my luck was shined by the previous government who made promises in their manifesto of ensuring adequate jobs in the country. This was when when they were battling for the presidency during 2000 and emerged victors and was sworn in January 7^th 2001.In their four year term, they could not fulfill that promise but hoped of winning second term to make it possible for them to satisfy the expectations of the electorates concerning jobs provision. The promise was therefore brought into reality in 2007 when we were trained for six months before distributed to the various sectors of the economy. The jobs comprised of the teaching sector, the health sector, youth in I C T, the Agric sector; etc.One could find himself or herself in one these sectors based on the choice he or she made. The program is called the NATIONAL YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRMME. It is political and not permanent. I can say that, it was a way of canvassing votes for the next election which just happened in 2008 and the N D C worn the election. The N P P was the ruling government for eight years since 2001 to 2008 but lost since they were not honest to their promises. So the job I am engaged in is not permanent because of the politics involved. The new ruling government can decide to terminate it since the program was not implemented by them. They have the mindset that if they allow us to keep working, we wouldn’t vote for them in the next election since we belong to the opposition. As at now, I have not received my pay since January 2009 but I pray and hope that they do or else life would be unbearable since I have not gone to school yet to have my own professional work. My pay comes from the controller and accountant general but it seems nothing is proving. My great vision for my brothers and my future relies on the little salary I take and if they decide to harass us indirectly, then I will be losing a lot. I can boldly say that I am the backbone and the breadwinner of the family and it will be a blow if this happens to me. It is not only me but my colleagues as well but some may not fell worried they come from better homes. The nature of Ghanaian politics is very frustrating because if you do not belong to a particular party, you do not enjoy any help from them. So far, I have acquired a lot of experience since my engagement at the hospital. I first worked in the male ward in 2007 and reshuffling came and I was taken to the scan room where I worked with the medical superintendent himself. This year, we were reshuffled again and I was taken to O P D and that is where I am presently working in the hospital. Based on the experience I have I acquired, I have developed some interest in nursing and that is my dream now but I can only offer the course after passing maths. My great dream now is to be a nurse in the near future. I may face numerous challenges if I decide to offer the course since my financial situation may not see me through if I stop working to pursue the course. I wish at least I can secure some financial and material sponsorship from benefactors or philanthropist to enable me pursue my dream. My brother’s education too will definitely encounter problems if I stop working to pursue the course since I am taking care of them. I am confused as to how I can combine my family and my brother’s education with my own.

 

MY ROLE IN THE CHURCH

I am a Christian with all my family. The name of my church is SEED ACROSS NATIONS EVANGELICAL MINISTRY in short (SANEM CHURCH).The name may look long but it means we propagate the word across nations and continents. The church is yet growing and the congregation is very interesting. It is a blessing to worship with this church. In my church, we have leaders that play various roles. But before you can hold a role in the church, you will be assed based on your attitude to the public, church, your church attendance, your competence and a lot more qualities before you can hold any position in the church. They also investigate to know whether you practice immorality when it comes to relationship with girls because we know as a Christian, you are not supposed to have engage in sex activities and more to the point, if you are found this, it means you can’t serve as exemplary leader in the church. One of the happiest days in my life is when the church wanted a youth leader in 2007. We were seven that were nominated for voting and fortunate on my part, I emerged the winner as the youth president in the church on May 21st 2007.I am supposed to sever three years in office in the church so that someone can also take over from me. In fact, I have a lot of responsibilities I play in the church and I am part and parcel of anything that happens in the church. My responsibilities are enormous and I thank God for the leadership invested in me. I need to leave a legacy in the church so that my name would not be forgotten among the youth and the church as a whole.

 

DANIEL AND RYAN RELATIONSHIP

In fact, it is wonderful and inspiring when you meet people very honest, sincere, transparent and ready to push you to the top. Ryan is very hardworking, committed and dedicated to his work. He doesn’t take his work for granted. He has familiarized himself with the people and he knows their problems. We have been sharing ideas on a lot of issues as how to overcome life challenges than always looking for a helping hand. What I like about Ryan is that he believes in empowering people with the needed knowledge, skills and techniques that will yield productivity or success in their lives if only one will show commitment and dedication. That means it is better to help one climb a tree than climbing a tree for people all times. Based on Ryan’s idea he shared with me, I see it very harmful even if your father keeps giving you a fish without teaching you how to fish yourself. Ryan has been visiting the field several times in a week to help people discover their potentials and that is his focus. Ryan is doing the best for us but some may think that he is bringing money since he is a white man than rather acquiring the knowledge to enable them money on their own. In life, you can prepare food for sale but you cannot force them to buy and that is the practical thing about life. Ryan has a great vision for the people of Bongo and I think Bongo would realize its fullest development if characters like Ryan occupy all fields of the economy. Ryan did not only help me with the money but also decided to help me with the maths classes. We started already but paused for a while due to ill-health. I must confess that Ryan is a good resource person to us and it will be a blow to miss him. I must say, we appreciate the effort of the authorities for bringing Ryan to Bongo. I cannot forget Ryan ever in my life and I hope the people as well. My dream or ambition is to become a nurse and Ryan has been encouraging me a lot.

MY E-MAIL ADDRESS
daniel.asaah@gmail.com

Please feel free to email Daniel and encourage him along his journey in unleashing his potential!