A globally respected businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, has urged students to design their futures intentionally rather than drift aimlessly into them. The renowned business mogul was speaking at an event organised by the School of Communication Studies of Wisconsin International University College, Ghana (WIUC–Ghana), dubbed the Fireside Chat with Sir Sam Jonah.
Sir Sam underscored that success is never determined by nationality or background but by discipline, persistence, and excellence. He also drew attention to the power of communication: “Communication is not just a PR problem; it can make or break careers, classrooms, and boardrooms. Words shape worlds, so use them wisely.” To illustrate, he recounted the story of a CEO who lost everything in a single day due to uncontrolled anger expressed toward his staff, stressing the need for leaders to communicate with respect.
Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, who is widely celebrated for transforming Ashanti Goldfields into a global mining powerhouse and was once the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, recounted his humble beginnings in Obuasi, where he grew up in a small mining town, before pursuing mining engineering and eventually rising to become Executive President of AngloGold Ashanti.
Reflecting on his journey, he emphasised the importance of choices: “The future is now. If today does not please you, it is because of the careless decisions of yesterday.”
He urged students to design their futures intentionally rather than drift aimlessly into them, saying, “Your competition is not the person sitting beside you, nor is it limited to Ghana’s 69 universities. It stretches across Africa’s 10,261 institutions and into a world of over 32,000 universities. But the fiercest competition is within you, the fight against laziness, the battle with self-doubt, and the fear of failure. When you win that inner contest, you will have peace in the world.”
The fireside chat transitioned into an interactive discussion moderated by Ms Dorcas Abena Gyan Boateng, the 2024 Valedictorian of the School of Communication. The session was lively and engaging, with students and faculty posing thoughtful questions. When asked how he managed to balance academics, entrepreneurship, and personal commitments, Sir Sam admitted it was not easy but emphasised discipline and setting clear priorities.
In her welcome address, the Dean of the School of Communication, Mrs Baaba Coffie, expressed gratitude to university management for their unwavering support. She noted that the encounter with Sir Sam Jonah was not just another seminar, but a rare opportunity to engage with a leader whose journey embodies resilience, innovation, and vision. Mrs Coffie further highlighted that this was the eighth fireside chat organised by the School since 2016, part of its ongoing initiative to expose students and alumni to industry leaders whose authentic stories inspire excellence.
The President of WIUC–Ghana, Dr. Lawrence Kannae, thanked Sir Sam Jonah for honoring the invitation and described the session as a “powerful seminar.”
