Former Member of Parliament (MP) of Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong
Former Member of Parliament (MP) of Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, who was also a former New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, has opened up about his very humble beginnings.
Speaking at a recent event by Skill Force Ghana, dubbed ‘‘Entrepreneurial Mindset and Leadership for the Youth Symposium,” Ken Agyapong, who is one of Ghana’s richest men, indicated that a lot of people do not know that he is from a poor family.
He said that he was born into a very poor family from one of the most deprived communities in the country, Assin Dompim, in the Central Region.
The former legislator said that despite his humble background, he was determined to make it in life through education. He said that he took the common entrance examination and got himself an admission to Adisadel College.
He went on to narrate how he got the name ‘Kwame Agyapong from the Farms’.
“With my chop box and trunk, I went to Adisadel College. At that time, the road was bad, it was so dusty… So, when I got there, they could tell that this guy was from the farms. My hair, eyelashes, everything was brown.
“So, one senior looked at me and called me… I went to him and he asked me, ‘What is your name?’ I said, Kwame Agyapong; ‘Where are you from?’ I did not even say Assin Dompim, because as for Assin Dompim, it is worse, so I said Assin Foso. He said, ‘Where is Assin Foso? farms ooo, farms’,” he narrated.
He also recounted how his classmates, most of whom he indicated were from rich families, used to tease him in school with his new nickname.
The former flagbearer hopeful said that any time a teacher asked for his name, his classmates would respond for him saying, ‘Kwame Agyapong, Farms ooo, Farms.’
“They were teasing me in the classroom… I was at the back, so any master who came first introduced himself and asked each of the students to introduce himself as well. I was at the back there because I was tall. I have young boys, some are 12, 13, 14 and I was 16 (in my class). So, you can imagine, and they were from preparatory schools: Morning Star, Association, Radiant Way.
“So, the master would call ‘The gentleman back there, what is your name?’ And all the young ones would just turn and look at me and shout, ‘Kwame Agyapong, Farms ooo, Farms’,” he recalled.
The former MP narrated how he sat back in school while his colleagues went to schools like Holy Child and Wesley Girls to get girlfriends.
He said that the main reason he could not join them was because he did not have nice clothing and was not that fluent in the English language.
“That time I’ll be washing seniors’ clothes. I didn’t have a chance. And again, you need a spotless white shirt to go to Holy Child or Wesley Girls to talk to a girl. I was from a poor family, how was I going to get that? So, I didn’t even bother.
“And even the English, when you meet the woman, you have to think of what you are going to say. You construct it in your head before you voice it out, so I wouldn’t bother at all. But we continued struggling, struggling, and here we are today,” he said.
Ken Agyapong said that today, because of his determination, he has become a man who is contributing so much to society.
He added that he was sharing his story with the youth so that they would not lose hope no matter where they are from.
“I can tell you that poor boy from Assin Dompim can proudly say that this time, there is nothing that will go on in Adisadel College that I will not be involved. God has done his part. I have also done my part,” he said.
Watch his remarks in the video below:
From a Village Boy to a Business Leader!
I started from a small village with nothing, but I never let my background define my future. Through hard work, vision, and determination, I built my success. No matter where you start, great hopes make everything possible!
🎧 Listen to… pic.twitter.com/NHQAzAS6Gx
— Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong (@honkenagy) February 27, 2025
BAI/AE
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