"What I liked most about them was that they never pretended to have what they did not, they made me understand the circumstances of my existence and therefore I didn’t compare myself to others and didn’t expect much more than they provided. So with such upbringing, you tend to be content with whatever was available."

"We shouldn’t forget prayer and right living with God and never try to get ahead of Him because we may hit our heads against the wall. Just be hardworking and leave the rest for God because he knows our frailties."

"There are certain traits you learn at home and of course you continue learning in school but what is prevalent in the house is what really influences you. So growing up under such an environment, you learn contentment and whatever you have, you thank God and use it."

"At 57, there wasn’t much time for me to come back and serve the university again so I thought this was apparently the best option for me because since the council of state was a part-time work, I could still be teaching,” she noted. I managed to combine the council of state work with my teaching at the University of Ghana and as I speak now, I have been re-appointed to the council of state in the second term of President Akufo-Addo’s government."

"I did graduate work and started teaching and some years into the teaching, I went for my PhD and came back so it was like my whole life has been at UG and so I wondered if I had served till I’m 57, why should I just end it instead of finishing?"

"I felt that was the best thing for me because in that year 2017, I was going to turn 57 and for some reason, I have never wanted to abrogate my contract with University of Ghana (UG). I always thought that I should stay committed because I started here as a student and never really left."

"So I knew I was growing old but didn’t think I was that old to be a Council of State member; [a response she said stunned her caller] but I asked for an opportunity to think about it."

"My father was educated up to middle school, and with his certificate, he got a job and started off as a bailiff but later had a job with VRA/NED in Tamale so it was from that institution he retired in 1998. He is now the Sanaahene of the Nsawkaw Traditional area. But my mum didn’t have a certificate so what she had to do was to do one job or the other so that she could, together with my father, put food on the table. Seriously, I saw her selling many things growing up and because I was the first child, I was doing most of the things with her."

"I am pleased to say that even though I have parents who did not advance that much in school, they were determined to educate their children. Sometimes it was hard for them to come by money to take care of us. But one thing we could always say or boast of was that none of us was chased home to collect school fees. My father always made sure he paid our school fees. But of course, the problem was whether you had new clothes to wear or you had three square meals to eat."

"I used to be part of a team on the breakfast show which happened to be the first morning show so one day, they asked me to interview presidential aspirants. After the interview, Mr Kufuor commended me and signed a copy of the NPP manifesto for me. Along the way, I had to pursue my education in the UK but my mind was always home and I don’t know whether it was because my children were young."

"Every year, I was in Ghana; I will come in the middle of December and leave middle of January. So when I was finally able to do a complete draft of my thesis, I left the UK."

"It was my childhood dream to be a Foreign Affairs Minister because I thought traveling would be fun. However, the 1979 coup I indicated, killed that political ambition. Rawlings came into power in 1979 and staged his coup. With the violence and killings that characterised it, I said to myself, the only crime they committed was probably because they were in public office. That was what killed my interest so I said, well, let me just get my certificates."

"Growing up, I was greatly influenced by my parents because although poor, they were very honest and would always make sure that we did not deceive anybody."

"I am not sure what happened in 1979 cured the nation of greed and thievery. Sometimes people say the end justifies the means, but to what end was that? Subsequent to 1979, look at the huge amounts people are stealing. They con the state to give them monies and they call it judgment debt."

"People should know that life is not a race and should not expect to make within a year what someone took so many years to make. Just know where you are coming from and know where you are going and how to get to where you want in life."

"You can’t win on talent alone. Talent on its own does not produce success."

"We women in leadership need to be mindful that we are [doing this] not just for ourselves but for the women who come after us. So, let’s get on and do it boldly."

"Places, where patriarchy is the norm, allow men to cause discomfort, embarrass, berate, harass, and sometimes even violently attack women for their existence as the opposite sex."

"In a place where patriarchy is the norm, public space is defined as belonging to men, and women are outsiders made to live in accordance with parameters set by men. How women dress, act, and engage in those spaces is strictly regulated by these social habits/norms."

"When you work with young people, it’s important to be visible on social media because that’s where young people hang out."

"As a leader, my priorities are transformation, excellence and sustainability. These priorities are interrelated because excellence without transformation is not sustainable, and where there is transformation without excellence, there is no integrity."

"Those of us in positions of power should be willing to invest our time in supporting those who are willing to be the ‘right people’. Don’t always look for the finished product, get involved in the process of creating the right people."

"Truth is that you cannot make a comeback if you are never lost."

"Believe that something positive will happen even in the absence of any supporting evidence."

"Sometimes, all you need to do is take the first step with the faith that everything will be fine."

"I have become my own cheerleader and because of that, positive things are happening around me."

"Make sure you choose mentors whose ethical choices you admire"

"Your good name and reputation are bigger than the job, the deal, the promotion and the money."

"It’s never too early or too late to learn or get your ethical act together."

"Your good name and reputation make you who you are. Don’t give them away"

"Your actions have consequences. When you choose an action, you are also choosing its consequences"

"Most of my life is faith. When I have a dream, I pursue it without thinking about what would happen if it doesn’t work and this is what makes me"

"We are always in the process of becoming and so I remain a work in progress."

"There was a time in my life when I thought everything about me was not right and needed fixing. I thought I was not smart enough, I thought my bum was too big and my eyes too small. It has taken me many years to be okay with being different."

"Keep the feeling of endless possibilities alive for as long as possible"

"It is within you to carve out your future and create your own destiny."

"When given an opportunity, use it well."

"The right attitude is to believe that you can cultivate your abilities and develop talents through practice."

"Go out there, be free and achieve your goals."

"If you ever have an opportunity to start at the bottom, don’t look down on it."

"Starting at the bottom makes you hungry and determined."

"Starting at the bottom builds character. It is the best way to learn."

"Nowadays, everyone wants to be an overnight success."

"Talent that is not supported by hard work ultimately runs out of steam and fails."

"Success requires hard work whether you are a tennis player, an artist, a scientist, a writer or an entrepreneur."

"Start with the “why” and then the “what” and the “how” will be clear"

"It is only through “doing” that we can find solutions."

"Stay true to your dream. Believe in your dream and keep pushing until you see it happen."