Patrick Awuah is a Ghanaian entrepreneur and educationist who has been making waves in the field of education since he founded Ashesi University in 2002. Awuah’s vision was to create a world-class university in Ghana that would provide a high-quality education to students and produce graduates who would become leaders and change-makers in their communities.
Born in Accra, Ghana in 1964, Awuah had a passion for education from a young age. After completing his secondary education at Achimota School, he moved to the United States where he earned a scholarship to study at Swarthmore College. He went on to earn a degree in engineering and worked for several years in the technology industry, including a stint at Microsoft where he was a program manager for the company’s Windows NT operating system.
However, Awuah’s true calling was in education, and he decided to leave Microsoft to pursue a career in teaching. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he was inspired to make a difference in his home country of Ghana.
In 2002, Awuah founded Ashesi University with the goal of creating a new model of higher education in Africa. Ashesi is a liberal arts college that offers a broad-based education in subjects like computer science, business, and engineering. The university has quickly gained a reputation for academic excellence, and its graduates are highly sought after by employers in Ghana and around the world.
Under Awuah’s leadership, Ashesi has become a pioneer in African education, and the university has been recognized by the likes of the Clinton Global Initiative, the World Economic Forum, and the MacArthur Foundation. Awuah has also been recognized for his contributions to education and development, including being named a Fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative and a Fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.
Awuah’s vision for education goes beyond just Ashesi, however. He is a strong advocate for education reform in Ghana and Africa more broadly, and he has spoken out about the need for more investment in education and the importance of creating educational opportunities for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
In addition to his work in education, Awuah is also a successful entrepreneur, having founded and run several technology startups. He has also served on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including the African Leadership Foundation and the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications.
Through his work at Ashesi and beyond, Awuah has become a leading voice in the field of education and development in Africa. He is a shining example of what can be achieved through dedication, hard work, and a commitment to making a positive difference in the world.