Gillian Yaa Sarpong Ofori
Business Administration
Class of 2023
My name is Gillian Yaa Sarpong Ofori. I have an incomprehensible love for God, nature, the arts, and almost all music. My family is my firmest support system. My parents, William and Nancy Ofori, are teachers, which outlined the importance of being knowledgeable from a young age for me. Serena and George, my two older siblings, are students at the University of Ghana and KNUST, respectively. The majority of my life has been spent in the suburbs of Accra, although I’m originally from a small town called Saltpond in the Central Region of Ghana.
Before becoming a member of the Ashesi Community, I was a part of what I liked to refer to as the GIS (Ghana International School) family. They provided me with the best secondary education in Ghana today. Throughout my time there, I was exposed to a plethora of leadership opportunities that enabled me to build upon my character. It made me realize that I wanted to study at a university where I could continue growing, and I deemed Ashesi the best fit. Participating in the 2018 Ashesi Innovation Experience (AIX) showed me one thing: I became sure without a shadow of a doubt that this was where I wanted to spend my next four years, as it was incredibly insightful and opened up my mind significantly.
During my time here, I hope to pursue a major in Business Administration, mainly because I take a huge interest in Accounting and Economics. For all my time in secondary school, Accounting was one of the most exciting classes for me. It guided my decision to work towards becoming a Chartered Accountant. In Ghana, the term “thief/thieves” is heavily affiliated with this profession because it is implied that accountants are not as trustworthy and honest as they pose to be. This was another driving force for my decision to come to Ashesi. I had closely followed and read about the Honor Code System, and the steps put in place to train ethical leaders in Ghana. I believe strongly that spending four years in an educational environment like this, one that upholds considerably high standards for ethical leaders and individuals, will help me become the person I hope to be. I will be able to strengthen my core values of truthfulness even amid strife, and against all the odds, be the ethical Chartered Accountant I aspire to be.
I want to thank you profusely for the investment you have made to help fulfill my dreams; this scholarship is a great blessing to me. I am grateful for the opportunity to be aided to acquire an Ashesi education. Even within my first few months, I have noticed tremendous growth in my work ethic and personality. This new stage in my life is the beginning of something very significant, and I am ecstatic that you have decided to follow me through this journey.
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