A young Ghanaian woman is making splashing waves in Canada. Twenty-two year old Akosua May Mathews becomes the second Ghanaian-Canadian ever to win a Rhodes scholarship, the prestigious academic award reserved for the world’s top youth academic brains between age 19 and 25 years. The Rhodes scholarship was established and endowed by the Will of the arguably famous British imperialist businessman and politician Cecil John Rhodes. The scholarship awards are for postgraduate study at University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. They are for two years in the first instance and may be extended for a third year for students pursuing a Doctoral degree in Philosophy (DPhil). The award covers the tuition, books and stationery fees for the student and eleven thousand British Pounds a year for living expenses.

Cecil Rhodes had studied at Oxford University and designed his Trust for the purpose of educating future leaders of the world at his Alma Mata. It has featured world leaders like former US President Bill Clinton. Eighty-two Rhodes Scholars are selected every year, with the highest number, thirty-two, from the United States, ten from South Africa, nine from Australia and eleven from Canada. The rest are distributed among countries of the Commonwealth Caribbean, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, Kenya and Germany. The selection of Rhodes scholars is based on a tough competitive selection process based on what Cecil Rhodes directed as “academic ability; sporting activity; qualities of personal rectitude; strength and compassion; and a sense of the public good”.

Our Ghanaian-Canadian Rhodes Scholar, Akosua May Mathews, won one of the three Rhodes scholarships reserved for the Canadian Prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta after undergoing what she described as “a tough competitive selection process”. Akosua points out that she was overwhelmed by her award since “the stakes were very high. I was blown away by the caliber of the other candidates”.

Akosua Mathews has achieved so much in her young life. She won a Gold medal in Philosophy on her graduation from the University of Manitoba in 2006 and is currently employed full time as a Policy Analyst for the Manitoba Provincial Government at the Ministry of Competitiveness, Training and Trade. She is also a reservist with the Canadian Army where she plays bugle and trumpet in the Company Band. She was a Page at the Provincial Legislature from August 2002 when she was in High School Grade 12, a position that can be attained only by High School students with exceptionally high grades.

She has been a member of the Provincial Youth Parliament since she was eighteen years in her first year at university. The Manitoba Youth Parliament holds five days of debate every year in December and Akosua Mathews was the Deputy Speaker and Director of Finance for the 86th Manitoba Youth Parliament in 2005. In 2006, she was the Youth Parliamentary House Leader and Director of Procedures. She is now a Member of the Board of Directors of the Youth Parliament. From September 2006 to June 2007, she worked as a Legislative Intern at the Manitoba Legislature.

Ms. Mathews has been a very active member of the Ghanaian Community in Manitoba. She was one of the pioneer dancers of the Africa Pavilion of the annual Manitoba Folklorama Cultural Festivals and is still active in the festivals. A very articulate public speaker, she was a co-MC during the Banquet Dinner of Ghana’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Winnipeg in March 2007. Akosua intends pursuing graduate studies in Philosophy with her Rhodes scholarship but her long-term goal is to study law and hopefully come back to Canada to practice law. She also has her eyes set on politics and hopes to become one of the top politicians in Canada in the not-so-distant future. “I hope to be among the new generation of women who will change Canadian and world politics”, she said with a broad smile. “You have your eyes on the Prime Minister’s job?” I asked. She smiled. “I wouldn’t rule that out either, but whichever way this scholarship takes me, I know it is going to open so many doors”.

What message does this young, brilliant, unassuming Ghanaian-Canadian have for her youthful peers? Akosua wants the youth to stay focused on whatever their interests are and invest their abilities in them. She is full of praise for her parents who have been the pillars behind her achievements. “I have incredible parents who believe in education and always expected more from me”. She also credits the teachers she has had along the way on her educational journey from elementary school through university. “All of them, including members of the Ghanaian community in Manitoba have been supportive actors in my life and I owe them a great debt of gratitude”.