When I returned to theWorld Bank and shared the story with Kofi Tsikata, he was thrilled for me. All he wanted was for me to complete my education. Within two weeks of my return to Ghana, the U.S. Embassy called me to come for my visa – this was the second time they were calling me for a visa even though I had not applied for one. That’s how I left Ghana once again. And the New President is… There I stood in front of the podium, being introduced to the entire university as the new Student Government President, and they applauded vigorously. It was as if my entire life story flashed before me. Me? A peasant boy fromBawku?Was it a dream? Had I come this far? I looked all around, even seeing the pride in the faces of the other African students. I knew I had made my parents proud. The university treated me well upon my arrival, providing free student accommodation and a job as a College Assistant in the office of the University’s Vice President and President. I eventually became almost like an Assistant Program Officer. The university also adopted my human trafficking project. The State of New York invited me to serve on what was called the ‘It’s Happening Here project,’ a human trafficking project, so I worked closely with the Department of Homeland Security. I also served on the New York Anti-Human Trafficking Board, participated in various committees, including the Sexual Harassment Committee, was inducted into the New York Rising Star Fame, and into the Malavi Leadership Academy, one of the most prestigious Leadership Academies in New York, established by the late Gastos Malavi, one of the founders of the City of New York. In 2010, during theWorld Cup, the university allocated funds for me to extend a project I started, the ‘Red Card Project,’ which used the ‘Red Card’ as a tool to demonstrate during theWorld Cup that human trafficking for sexual exploitation was unacceptable. The BBC, CNN, and the Freedom Project took up the project and featured it on air. Newly elected Executives of International Honors Society Kingsborough Community College Moses with Dr. Fakhari, Academic Provost at KBCC, who recruitedMoses for scholarships and leadership Moses with Dr Peruggi at graduation 28 The Birthday Journal
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTAyMTM3NQ==