A Will To Impact: Insights Of A Social Entrepreneur in Ghana

By Olivia Safo

Become a Change Maker, Generate Social Good Through Impact Investing, and Achieve Sustainable Progress

Do you yearn to be a change maker in your corner of the world -- or even beyond?
Imagine finally lighting the fire that burns deeply in your heart.

A social entrepreneur and author, Olivia Safo will inspire you to become the change maker you've longed to be. She is a facilitator of new business initiatives and will lead you forward with her diversity of experiences in the world of Impact Investing.

Here's a small portion of what Olivia will share in her memoir Will to Impact:
• Eye-opening knowledge and guidance (especially if you are thinking of starting a business)
• Must-have insight on Social and Impact Investing
• Business and entrepreneurial experiences Olivia has had along the way
• Lessons learned throughout her journey
• Why the Nine-Point Rule for Life matters
• How you can leave behind a blueprint for victory and sustainability (for those generations yet unborn)
• Tips to use moving forward (if you want to retire from working for others)

You are the change you seek. But, you will need knowledge and guidance to get you there.
Claim your copy NOW to become a change maker

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667867069

Book preview

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© 2022 Olivia Safo

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

eBook ISBN: 978-1-66786-706-9

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter One – Early Beginnings

Chapter Two – Impact Investing

Chapter Three – The Old Man Is Gone

Chapter Four – Blue Skies Holdings

Chapter Five – Crystal Lake

Chapter Six – Amazing Grace

Chapter Seven – A Nine-Point Rule for Life

Acknowledgments

An attempt to list everyone for whom a debt of gratitude is owed will be a never-ending exercise that will benefit no one. When I cast my mind back to the number of experiences and breakthroughs I’ve had, the list of supporters and benevolent individuals, are staggering.

So, I shall restrict this to only those who have been directly involved in this project and have stood with me to the very end.

The first acknowledgement goes to my mother, for being an ever-present support and a shoulder to cry on throughout all my experiences.

My sons, James and Christopher, have been invaluable to me all these years. They give me a reason to keep going and not give up.

Next, I would like to thank Ebenezer Amankwah. His belief in the project from the very beginning, proved crucial in getting this done.

I also want to acknowledge my long-standing team members, Grace, Isaac and Mary. Your strength and enthusiasm remain priceless to me.

Introduction

WHY did I decide to embark on this writing expedition? It’s simple: I am a firm believer in the notion that generations yet unborn deserve to look back. The philosopher Hegel said a long time ago that what we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history. But that was Hegel. A product of his time.

That shouldn’t be the kind of lesson we should be handing down to our children. Those coming after us deserve knowledge and guidance, a sort of blueprint for success for them to chart only the approved paths to victory and sustainability.

I delved into the deep recesses of my mind to put these thoughts down. It is not a textbook; neither is it a self-help book. It is an account of one person and the diversity of business and entrepreneurial experiences I’ve had along the way.

History must be embraced for what it’s worth. A director of future paths. It should teach. It should rebuke. It should chasten. I hope this book will do that in some way and spur a young child growing somewhere across the world. It should light the fire burning deeply in the heart of a young entrepreneur yearning for a breakthrough. Then my job would be accomplished. Then will I find peace and comfort.

Chapter One –

Early Beginnings

The 1970s was a period of instability in Ghana’s political life. The yearning for freedom towards the late 1950s into the 1960s had given way to instability, interspersed with a string of military interventions. I was too young to experience the discomfort and hardship. I was born after two boys and so it was natural that I spent more time with them than with my two older sisters. I got introduced to the rough and tumble of childhood play – tree climbing, football, and all other games reserved exclusively for boys. I was a ‘tomboy’, a fancy term for girls who were usually found in the company of boys.

I interacted with a lot of people and made many childhood connections back then. We lived in several places all over the capital.

North Kaneshie was a place I remember vividly. I attended Ann’s Preparatory School, which was close to the Cocoa Marketing Board workers’ apartments in that suburb of Accra. Mataheko, another suburb, about 10 kilometres from Kaneshie, was another place I remember quite distinctly. I was given the opportunity to attend the Rapid Way Academy school – a decent school back then. Next, we made a giant leap to a completely different part of town – Burma Camp, an area occupied by personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces. There I made new friends whilst attending the Burma Camp Complex school.

My father was transferred to the United Kingdom to act as the Area Manager of the Ghana Commercial Bank in Cheapside, an area of London, at a point in time during my early development. When he had settled into his new role, I had the opportunity to visit him in London. It blew me away.

I was so enthralled with the surroundings. It was indeed a teeming city to my mind back then. Its unvarnished dedication to individualism was very visible at this time. My siblings were equally excited about the adventure. When Daddy was eventually transferred back to Ghana, my surroundings changed again. This time I was enrolled into Association International School at the Airport Residential Area. It was a very competitive environment with a sophisticated network of students. I sat for the Common Entrance Examination there and made it to Achimota school, located in Ghana’s capital city, Accra.

One of the unique recollections of my time at Achimota School was an overpowering, obsessive desire to become a Catholic nun. It started off as an idea that I kept to myself. The prospect of being tucked away at a convent, away from the glare of humankind, was appealing. I considered myself a social misfit on campus at this time. I lacked the confidence to face people. The very thought was enough to push me away. A misanthrope might be a strong word to describe me, but it was quite close. I had some friends, but I wasn’t necessarily someone who made an impression at first glance. When the school authorities managed to contract Reverend Father Charles G. Palmer Buckle to become Achimota’s chaplain, I knew my moment had come. I mustered all the courage possible and knocked on his office door one day.

When I eventually made my way inside, I broke the news to him. I had decided to become a Catholic Nun. ‘It is my calling, Father’, I told him forcefully. He wasn’t particularly shocked. He was somewhat impressed, I would say. He wanted to know more about my motivations, hopes, and fears. He wanted me to get in touch again for a series of meetings to enable us get the process underway. I was cautiously happy. I understood that a career