Prof. Edward Appiah, the Director General of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, had a fascinating journey to his current position.
In a recent interview on the Y Leaderboard Series with Y 107.9 FM’s Rev Erskine, he opened up about his early life and the role his uncle played in shaping his future.
Growing up, Prof. Appiah admitted he didn’t have the best experiences with his parents who were separated at the time. He also found a mentor in his uncle who was a medical officer as he spent the majority of his childhood with him.
When it came time for Prof. Appiah to choose his path in secondary school, he was torn between architecture and the arts. His uncle saw potential in the latter and encouraged him to pursue both. Despite initial hesitations, Prof. Appiah took his uncle’s advice and went for interviews for both courses.
“I was going to secondary school and at the time I wanted to do architecture. But he said no I can’t abandon the design and do solely architecture. Of course architecture involved design but he felt I would do well in the design space. So even though I went for the interview for architecture I also went for the arts and design because you would post two courses at the time,” he shared.
A year later, his uncle checked in and asked him which direction he wanted to pursue. Prof. Appiah realized that he was thriving in the arts and design field and decided to stick with it.
This chance encounter with his uncle changed the course of Prof. Appiah’s life and led him to his current position as the Director General of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
“I would say he influenced my direction,” said Prof. Appiah. “And I am grateful for that guidance.”
This inspiring story is a reminder of the power of mentors and the impact they can have on our lives. It also highlights the importance of following one’s passion, even if it’s not what was initially planned.
By: Jude Tackie
