At the 1^st Congregation of the University of Media Arts and Communication (UNIMAC), held on April 15, 2023, Sophia bagged a Master of Arts in Development Communication with a final Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.94. Out of 85 graduands, she emerged as the best student in Development Communication and for this, she was awarded a laptop computer which is expected to enhance her academic and professional experience.

According to Sophia, she entered tertiary education knowing that it could only take a miracle to sail through the course considering the financial requirements involved. But, little did she know that the much-anticipated miracle would come sooner than she imagined. “One morning during the first-semester vacation of my first-degree programme, I was tying charcoal for sale when I heard my phone ring. I quickly got up to answer the phone. It was a call from the academic secretariat. I nearly fainted out of joy when the caller said that I have been selected for a Lebanese scholarship. My parents and siblings as well could not hide their joy when I broke the news to them. The scholarship is based on academic performance and is available for Ghanaian students across the fields of media, law, and arts. Both my undergraduate and graduate studies were fully funded by the Lebanese Community in Ghana scholarship”, she recounted.

Sophia obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (Journalism option) at the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 2020, three years after completing the Christian Methodist Senior High School in 2013.

According to her, finances at home were not that good. She got into trading to better the finances of the family. “I always helped my mother to sell foodstuffs after school since I was always by her side while my brothers went to play football. Later, when I completed secondary school, I sold fried yam and potatoes to help my parents raise money for my tertiary education. I would welcome buyers with a smile and politely ask them how much of the food they wanted, whether the pepper was enough, and even how they liked or disliked the taste of the food. Although there were two yam sellers in the area, most of the people came and bought from me”, she said. Sophia believes that that aspect of her life experience marked the beginning of her career in communication.

Sophia had always wanted to pursue her education to higher heights and as a fervent Christian, she believed that everything in her life was by the grace of God.  According to her, the journey through the master’s degree programme wouldn’t have been possible without the scholarship of the Lebanese Community in Ghana and the support of her family. “My scholarship was renewed a year after the set time, and this was a huge favour my sponsors did for me. My daughter was a year old when I enrolled in the programme. I always thank God for giving me such loving and helpful parents who were always there for me. While I grappled with work and lectures, they took care of my one-year-old baby. This gave me a great sense of relief allowing me to focus on my studies. On a few occasions, one of my brothers would help me with my baby’s laundry. Other family members would also encourage me to keep studying hard and not give up. That is how amazing my family is”, noted Sophia.

Sophia devoted herself to attending lectures and doing all assignments to avoid problems with the school authorities. She noted that the tasks grew more challenging when she had to work on her dissertation as part of the programme requirements. “I burned the midnight candle tirelessly, working on my assignments because I knew the next day would be too busy for my school work. On days that the traffic situation was bad, I got home as late as 10:00 pm after school on Fridays. On arrival, I would quickly wash my nipples which would soon be grabbed by the baby who would have been craving for mama’s milk. Although the process was somehow painful, I felt it was nothing compared to the love of a mother”, she said.

Interests and Hobbies

Sophia is a woman with a growing interest in multicultural establishments and gatherings. “I crave more knowledge and information about everyday living, paying particular attention to the lives of social influencers who hitherto were dreamers just like myself. As a development communicator, I believe that communication is a powerful tool that should be used to make lives better instead of using it to cause mayhem and diversity among people. My task is to be a voice for the voiceless and facilitate dialogue between stakeholders who want to achieve development. In the end, I hope to see a voice heard, a problem solved or justice granted among other things that seek to impact lives positively”, explained Sophia.

She added that development is achievable and more successful when it comes from the very people who want it and not when it is imposed on them. “In my engagements with people, I want to know how best I can help them to help themselves. For instance, I cannot tell you what I think is good for you. However, you can tell me what you want while I assist you with my knowledge to get results”, she noted.

Sophia is an ardent reader and writer of fiction. She enjoys cooking and sewing during the weekends. She also loves to help children learn- teaching children’s songs, rhymes, and poems.

Sophia Owusu’s exceptional academic performance, multi-tasking abilities, and diverse skill set in written and verbal communication have been instrumental in both her academic and work life. She hopes to be an inspiration for all women who want to go all out for what they love and stay strong to achieve their dreams.

Work Experience

Twenty-seven-year-old Sophia Owusu is a diligent team player at BusinessGhana Internet Services Limited where she works as a journalist. With her background in Journalism and Development Communication, Sophia has written over a hundred stories on various subject areas that include health, climate, agriculture, ICT, business and work life, fashion, architecture, and entertainment, to mention a few.

Before her current role at BusinessGhana Internet Services Limited, Sophia worked at Metro TV, an Accra-based- media house, as an intern. There, she gained practical experience in news editing, production, and reporting. She also worked as a volunteer teacher at Stars of the Hills, a primary school in the Central region of Ghana, in 2015.  Sophia also engages in trading activities as an alternative source of income. For her National Service, she worked as a teaching assistant at the Ghana Institute of Journalism.

Sophia is the daughter of Joseph and Agnes Owusu. Her mother hails from New- Juabeng in the Eastern region whiles her father is from Buoho in the Ashanti region of Ghana. She is the only female and the last child among four children.  As a mother, Sophia seeks to lead a life of responsibility, setting a good example for her now, two-year-old girl.

so.sophiaowusu@gmail.com