Engaging and Shaping Young Minds for Excellence

September Feature

Marilyn Dankyi

Experienced Associate · PwC Ghana

Like many students of the Class of 2020, I was excited to have finally completed SHS, amidst all the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, and eager to start my university journey. With that transition, came the privilege of being one of 16 girls from Wesley Girls' High School assigned to Dr. Cynthia Addoquaye Tagoe as a mentor.

I still vividly remember my first meeting with her, together with my colleagues, Venicer and Christable. We arrived at her office exactly at our scheduled time of 1pm, narrowly escaping her tradition of asking students who arrived late to her office even by a minute to reschedule their meetings. Right from day one, we learned the importance of punctuality. As we sat listening, she also reminded us to always bring notepads to write down what we learned – a habit that has stayed with me ever since.

Throughout my undergraduate years, Dr. Addoquaye Tagoe urged us to pursue academic excellence while also making time for extracurricular activities. To keep us accountable, she requested our transcripts at the end of the semester to ensure we were staying on track.

Our meetings were always more than just mentorship sessions. They were opportunities to learn and share our experiences. And more often than not, we would not leave her office without some chocolate, a slice of cake or some other little treat as a sweet reminder of the warmth and genuine care that characterised our time with her.

I am deeply grateful to Dr. Cynthia Addoquaye Tagoe and the SWAG Mentorship Programme for investing in us and equipping us with knowledge and experiences that continue to shape our lives today.

August Feature

Alfred Godwin Adjabeng

PhD Student · UG

In 2018, I gained admission to the University of Ghana. Like many others, I was full of hope and excitement about the journey ahead. However, somewhere during the second semester, I became overwhelmed by the demands of coursework, the challenge of adjusting to life in Accra, and the responsibility of self-financing my master's education.

At the time, there weren't many people I felt comfortable talking to about the challenges I was facing. I didn't want to burden my classmates, who I knew were dealing with their own struggles. I also assumed that the lecturers who taught me wouldn't have the time or interest to listen. I was wrong.

After attending several of her lectures, I noticed something different about Dr. Cynthia Addoquaye Tagoe. Her warmth, approachable nature, and genuine passion for seeing people succeed convinced me that she was the right person to speak to. Even then, I hesitated.

One afternoon in my hostel, I reached my breaking point. I was completely burnt out and felt I could no longer carry the weight of the many pressures surrounding me — some of which I simply could not ignore. I asked a friend to take me to her office.

She welcomed me with kindness and compassion. That moment became the beginning of a mentoring relationship that has profoundly shaped my life and continues to do so. I call it the C-effect.

Today, I thank God for gifting Dr. Cynthia Addoquaye Tagoe to our generation. She does far more than teach. She transforms lives and nurtures people into transformative leaders. The time she gives, the personal sacrifices she makes, and the resources she invests in others can only be described as God-inspired.

Some people teach courses; she teaches people. I am privileged to be one of the many whose lives have been positively changed because she chose to care.