I truly grasped the meaning of fulfillment when I saw a dream come to life—a dream I had challenged myself to achieve soon after stepping into the University of Education, Winneba. My goal was simple yet ambitious: to visit places I had only heard about in and around the Central Region. Having completed my senior high school education at Adisadel College, I had already explored most of the region’s tourist sites. But then I heard of Nzulezu—a stilt village near Beyin in the Western Region, approximately 90 kilometers west of Takoradi. Home to over 500 residents, Nzulezu overlooks Lake Tadane and is entirely built on stilts and platforms. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage nominee in 2000, it had become a major tourist attraction. I vowed to visit this extraordinary place before completing my university education.
My first year came and went, yet no student group or organization had planned an excursion to Nzulezu. In my second year, I shared my idea with my roommates. One of them, a third-year student, told me that such a trip had never been organized before due to the long distance. It seemed like an impossible mission, but I refused to let go of the dream. If no one was going to organize it, then I would.
Teaming up with my roommate, Emmanuel Baffoe, nicknamed “The Dean,” who led the first-year language students, we began planning. We sent letters of intent to potential stops along the route and settled on Fort Apollonia and Nzulezu. Navigating the bureaucratic process with the university was challenging, as we needed official approvals and access to transportation. We applied to use university buses, but as expected, we received no response—until the night before the scheduled trip.
That evening, I had resigned myself to canceling the trip. I was preparing to inform the students who had paid when I noticed a university bus parked in front of the administration block. Curious, I searched for the driver and discovered that, to my surprise, the bus had been released for our excursion without our knowledge. With newfound energy, I borrowed a megaphone and moved from hall to hall announcing, “Excursion! Excursion!! Excursion!!!” By morning, a few more students had joined, allowing us to raise just enough funds to fuel the bus.
The journey itself was incredible. We made several stops, enjoying good food along the way—including a memorable meal of fufu and aponkye nkrakra (goat soup). Upon arrival, we toured Fort Apollonia before being transported to the riverbank leading to Nzulezu. Equipped with life jackets, we took canoes across the lake to the stilt village. The excitement among the group was palpable, and as I stood there, watching my dream unfold, I was overwhelmed with a deep sense of fulfillment. It was not about financial gain but about proving to myself that determination and persistence could turn an idea into reality.
That experience fueled my drive to do even more. During my national service, I was posted to Jesus Grammar School in Dawhenya. There, I founded Tour Ghana, collaborating with the headteacher, Sir Francis Akuffo, to organize similar trips for students in Dawhenya, Prampram, Afienya, Somanya, Kpong etc. Our goal was to promote internal tourism and create memorable experiences for students who otherwise would never have the opportunity to explore Ghana’s rich cultural heritage.
One of our most popular initiatives was the Ada Asafotufiami Festival Ferry Cruise, in partnership with Media2 Icons, led by my long-time business ally, Henry Maxwell Amediku. We provided festival attendees with an unforgettable cruise experience along the Volta River, from Ada to Sogakope and back, aboard the Ghana Highway Ferry. The cruise combined entertainment, dining, and live performances, bringing a new dimension to the festival experience.
Through this journey, I learned that success in business is not just about financial wealth but about building relationships, creating impact, and fostering meaningful experiences. Big men and big businesses thrive not merely on money but on strong, healthy relationships. That is my greatest lesson from this venture—one I hope others will embrace as well
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