those of us who were academically inclined, school was an absolute delight. We studied very hard in order to be able to show off our grades at the end of the academic year, to the extent that it was almost a competition. The normal practice was for the whole school to assemble by class, as the teachers called the results of the class, starting from the pupil who had excelled the most, to the last in the class. I was always the first in my class. When I was eleven years old, I went to live withmy father, andthereIbecameveryclose with one of my brothers from my father’s side. We were the only two people living with my father at the time. My father was then the manager at GNTC at Komenda. I started my middle school at British Komenda LA Middle and subsequently moved to Saltpond, where I continued at Saltpond Methodist School. I wrote and passed my common entrance examination at Form 3. At that time, my brother was at the secondary school, therefore I was the only person staying with my father. After my father died there was no one to pay my fees. I had qualified to attend Swedru Secondary School. My father had bought my trunk, my white shirt, everything before he died. All that was left were the school fees, but the uncle who inherited my father refused to look after any of us. It was therefore decided that I should go to Accra, to live with one of my aunties in New Town, from where I could be enrolled into an accountancy school called the Royal Academy of Accountancy. However, to the glory of God, one of my elder brothers, Matthew Kwesi Forson, who was an elementary school teacher, intervened. Being very much aware of my academic prowess, he insisted that I attend secondary school instead. He had already applied for the Cocoa Board Scholarship, and he knew I would be selected, and even if I was not awarded a scholarship, he was determined that I should attend secondary school as a day student. In fact, Matthew and my elder sister, Veronica Forson, put their resources together, and paidmy school fees for the first term. Sister Veronica even topped up the amount by selling her sewing machine. I was eventually awarded the scholarship, and this catered for my seven years in secondary school. My father died of pneumonia. Even at a young age, I knewmy father would not have died if he had received proper medical care. I made a vow to myself to become a medical doctor so I could help prevent needless deaths. My father died of pneumonia. Even at a young age, I knew my father would not have died if he had received proper medical care. I made a vow to myself to become a medical doctor so I could help prevent needless deaths. “ 10 The Birthday Journal
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