A newspaper article about the cocoa swollen shoot disease affecting farms across Ghana led Alfreda Akosua Nyamekye Ofori ’29 to pursue a degree in Biological Engineering at Ashesi. “Cocoa is a cash crop that contributes significantly to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), so if this is happening, then our nation’s development is at stake,” she says.

She learned that although disease-resistant varieties are available, many smallholder farmers cannot access them for several reasons. The gap between available solutions and farmers’ realities led her to think about practical, low-cost alternatives, including Do-It-Yourself (DIY) tools that could help farmers better protect their farms.

After completing St Monica’s Senior High School, Ofori worked at Pizzaman Chickenman as a salesperson and call center executive. The experience exposed her to the realities of customer needs and everyday problem-solving. Interacting with diverse clients daily taught her patience, empathy, and effective communication skills, which she now recognizes as just as important as technical knowledge and essential for working with farmers and communities in the future.

Now at Ashesi, Ofori is excited about the Foundations of Design and Entrepreneurship course. “I’ve heard a lot about it,” Ofori shares. “People say it’s difficult, but I’m mentally prepared and ready to be stretched.”