Student Profiles

Getting Started on Big Dreams

Kofi Tonto ’10 (economics) wants to be an entrepreneur—in fact, he is in the process of launching his first business. Ghana Abroad, Inc., he hopes, will help reverse the brain drain out of that country. “Things have to change in Africa,” says Tonto, who was born there and moved to Worcester, MA, when he was fourteen. “My goal is to find ways to shape up the good things, develop new policies to eliminate the bad, and create a system that will fit how we live as Africans. Ghana Abroad is a first step to broadcast my ideas to the world. I also intend to start a micro-finance company to support small business owners in Ghana. I want to become a great politician there. But I will move forward one step at a time.”

The core objective of the nonprofit Ghana Abroad is to bring Ghanaian students, who reside, have naturalized, or have been born to Ghanaian parents in the United States, to Ghana to experience that country. The program, Tonto says, “aims to raise participants’ consciousness, expose them to investment and business potentials, and provide an opportunity for students to learn about the culture of the motherland. I’m interested in finding less costly ways to bring students to Ghana.”

Tonto believes that by giving students exposure, they will be more willing to contribute their skills and knowledge to the development of the country. “I think they’ll learn to eliminate stereotypes of Ghana, better understand what the country is all about, and explore opportunities there,” he says. “As the program takes shape, Ghana Abroad intends to set up a bi-directional exchange program with various universities. Through their exposure to different learning environments, students will become better informed. And bringing their insights ‘home,’ they will enhance the country’s prosperity.”

To date Tonto has established a contract with schools in Ghana, and once the State Secretariat approves the program (soon, says Tonto), schools in United States will be sent official letters for affiliation. The website too is a work in progress, being built as details emerge. “Right now,” Tonto says, “we are creating awareness, but serious campaigning for the program will commence in the summer.”

Coming to Worcester from Kamasi, Ghana, in the Ashanti region, Tonto says, wasn’t easy. “I went through a lot of struggles, transitioning from a completely different culture to pursue the American Dream,” he says. “Ashanti people, for example, are not good English speakers. Like myself, most Ashantis are very proud of our heritage and won't speak any language aside from their own no matter where they are. Even now, I speak English only if I must. Letting go of some of my traditions, including simple things like games I played growing up, was hard. But what I have learned allows me to view things differently.” 

As a junior in high school, Tonto came to campus for a visit with his friend Martin Kwadwo Boateng ’06 (biology). “I was really impressed with what I saw and decided that this was where I would study too.” His SAT scores weren’t great, Tonto acknowledges, but his 3.86 GPA got him in the door.

“My academic experience,” Tonto says, “has been great. I’ve learned that being a good student is more than being naturally smart. It requires hard work and perseverance to succeed. I’ve taken a lot of economics, political science and other courses that have been relatively easy, in the sense that the material was easy to grasp. However, without hard work, class participation, and research, you can easily fail. My professors, especially Kevin Crocker, Michael Ash, Richard Hall and Mwangi wa Gĩthĩnji, inspired me to work harder and always sent me in the right directions.”

In 2009 Tonto studied abroad in Ghana at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. It was an eye-opening experience. “During my four-month stay, I learned that we Ghanaians abroad can do a lot. Financial support is a good way to help that country, but having a physical presence, being part of decision making can help eliminate that burden. I believe that we must make ourselves useful, be a part of the greater good, and contribute to the well-being of our people.”

After graduation Tonto expects to begin working toward his master’s degree immediately and then go on for his PhD. “When I’m done, I won’t be relying on a 9-to-5 job. UMass Amherst has taught me how to think constructively about coming up with new business ideas, not just for financial gain but also geared toward global development. I think I could be another Bill Gates,” Tonto says confidently. “But I don’t work hard because of money. I want to contribute to the greater good. Money is only a reward.”

March 10, 2010