Then came National Service—a mandatory oneyear period that many approach with mixed feelings. I, however, embraced it with open arms, choosing to serve in the Volta Region, specifically my beloved hometown, Hohoe. It was one of the best decisions I ever made. Not only did I get to reconnect with my roots, but I also had the beautiful responsibility of taking care of my grandmother. Weekends became our sacred time together. I would bathe her, dress her, and then we would sit on the porch of my father’s house—she in her regal silence, me in awe of the stories written in her eyes. Though she spoke sparingly due to her age, those moments were pure gold. I also had the chance to connect with my grandfather, grandaunties, uncles, aunties, and cousins—all on my paternal side. It was a full-circle moment that deepened my understanding of who I was and where I came from. Following this, I was blessed with the opportunity to begin my professional career in the corporate world. I secured a job as a Customer Service Adviser with the then Barclays Bank. This role was more than employment—it was a masterclass in leadership, discipline, and character. Each day in that banking hall presented new challenges, but with them came immense growth. God, in His mercy, positioned me under the guidance of some of the most impactful mentors I’ve known—T.K., Mr Kwesi Mante, Mrs Gwendolyn Gyaben, Deborah Yeboah, Aunty Aggie, and Comfort Dodoo (“C”). These remarkable individuals poured into me the virtues of hard work, dedication, respect, and love. They didn’t just prepare me for the demands of the banking industry—they helped form the ethical compass I would carry throughout my life. At Barclays, I also formed another cherished tribe—my first workplace girlfriends and boyfriends who would become lasting friends: Adobea Koranteng, Pearl Afenyo (Trace-Trasash), Joyce Bampo, Benjamin Twum, and Douglas Boakye-Yiadom. Together, we shared deadlines, lunch, career dreams, and unforgettable laughter. They made the workplace feel like home. But life, as I was learning, was not only about the beauty—it also carried shocks that would forever reshape my soul. On 6th June 2000, I was involved in the Airlink Fokker 27 plane crash. What had begun as an adventurous trip to the North turned into one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. Six lives were lost. By what I now know was divine intervention, I had switched my seat—and the person who sat there ended up losing both legs. That could have been me. That should have been me. But God said no. That experience changed me. Life is fleeting—a truth I had always heard but now felt in the deepest parts of my being. I emerged from that wreck not just alive but awakened. In the aftermath, while the physical wounds began to heal, the emotional reckoning came in waves. In those quiet, reflective weeks after the crash, as I pieced together what could have been my last day, a deeper truth surfaced: sometimes, God saves you not just from death—but from the things you were never meant to die for. Life is fleeting—a truth I had always heard but now felt in the deepest parts of my being. I emerged from that wreck not just alive but awakened. “ The Birthday Journal 19
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