Archived Bulletins

Academics alone do not guarantee success - interview with Keli Gadzekpo

By Anita Ayamgha
Class of 2007

Student's of Ashesi got a chance to interview Databank Vice Chairman, Mr. Keli Gadzekpo at a recent corporate dinner hosted at the Labadi Beach Hotel, where he was the honorary chairperson of the event. Keli is married with two kids and loves to spend his leisure time dreaming. He believes dreaming a lot helps him to achieve his goals.

Keli received his primary and secondary school education at Achimota School in Accra. Unfortunately, he did not do too well in his ordinary level examinations and had to take the test again. He went on to do his sixth form at Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon, but had to re-sit his advanced level examination as well, as he did not do too well in that either. He finally was enrolled in a Diploma course in Accountancy at the University of Ghana, Legon.  Unfortunately, he was not able to complete the course because the facultry went on strike and classes were suspended.

After Legon suspended classes, Keli traveled to the United Sates of America to further his education and became a Certified Public Accountant. After graduating he got a job working with the accounting firm Price Waterhouse. While in the United States, the idea of forming Databank was presented to him by the current Chairman, Mr. Yofi Grant. Keli did not fully comprehend the initial concept but latched onto the idea because he knew he could play a major role. He knew the Databank, a financial srvices firm would need an accountant. Now, years later, he is the Vice Chairman of Databank.  Today his duties include administration, organisation and financial management of the firm. He believes that the people behind a business make the business successful.  Keli offered that the basic formula for a successful business is exchange. “You must produce a product or service that someone is willing to pay for.” 

Keli was asked to give some advice to students struggling with academics for he struggled with it himself. “Academia is basic but not a guarantee for success.”  He was a C student but believes that God gave him chances. Initially Keli was not focusing on academic excellence but by university level, he knew he wanted to find a career he could be comfortable with and set himself to mastering a craft. He advised that, struggling students should give academics their all. “If you are mature enough to know its value, it will be less difficult to bring yourself to strive for it.” He also added that, after achieving academic excellence you need to strive even harder to succeed.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Copyright © 1999-2008 Ashesi University Foundation. All rights reserved.