Deputy Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources and Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya West, Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, has encouraged students to remain determined in the face of academic setbacks, revealing that she failed her A Level examinations three times before finally gaining admission into the university.
She made this personal disclosure during her speech at the 12th Anniversary and 2nd Speech and Prize Giving Day of Fettehman Senior High School in the Central Region on Saturday, July 26, 2025.
“I didn’t pass my A Level the first time. I didn’t pass the second time either. It was the third time that I finally made the grades to enter university,” she said, adding that despite attending the prestigious Wesley Girls’ High School, she never won a single academic prize.
Gizella, who is now a qualified architect with 27 years of experience, used her story to inspire the students,especially those who may be struggling to never give up.
“When my mates were heading to the University of Ghana and KNUST, I stayed back. I saw the courses people were going to study and I said to myself, ‘This one, I can do it too.’ But I also realized that I was part of the problem, so I had to sit up, focus, and study.”
She eventually gained admission to KNUST to study architecture, a field she noted is often dominated by men.
“In my class, there were 30 men and just 10 women. But we stood toe to toe, head to head, and I’ve been practicing ever since.”
Tetteh-Agbotui also took the opportunity to caution against overemphasising gender in education, stressing the need to empower both boys and girls equally.
“If we overdo the girl-child advocacy and leave the boys behind, we’ll create a new imbalance. I believe in helping all children,male and female,develop together.”
She urged the students to appreciate the sacrifices their parents have made and to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them.
“Someone wishes to be where you are. You are in a good place at a good time. Make good use of it.”
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