AFIA AKYAA, A WOMAN SO UNAPOLOGETICALLY ASSERTIVE!

Meet Afia Akyaa, an old girl of University of Ghana, Wesley Girls’ High  School and Koforidua Pentecost School. Afia is a chatered accountant and one of the few women I’ve come across who know what they want and stand for.

From the 10 main questions I’ll be asking Afia today, we’ll get to know her more. So, let’s set the ball rolling

Q1. Did attending Gey Hey play any part in the confident woman you are?

I think it was part. But when I entered Gey Hey, I was seen as a controversial person who wouldn’t shut up about her opinions, responded when she was bullied and disobeyed school rules. So I think I was always an assertive person but Gey Hey added up to it. I am actually the only person in the history of Gey Hey to take sardine to the dining hall and have her name mentioned to the whole school to receive a punishment. I didn’t care at all. I did my punishment and continued being assertive 🤣🤣

Hahaha wow. Any parent you think that trait is from?

My parents have very different personalities. I got a little of both. My dad is super intelligent and has learnt from his mistakes in life so now he encourages me to be myself and says he will support me if I decide not to even marry. My mum is a hardworking woman. She has worked her whole life to make our lives really comfortable. For the assertiveness dierr… I think I got it from the witchcraft I received from being named Akyaa. All people named Akyaa are assertive and possess some amount of witchcraft 🤣🤣

Hahahaha

Q2. What’s your take on ‘one night stand’?

When I was younger like most women, I stuck with the indoctrination that sex reduced your value as a woman and the more sex you have or the more men you sleep with your value diminishes. But I didnt have sense then and I didn’t know any better.
But now I have sense. I think the value a person places on themselves has nothing to do with sex. Value is an intrinsic factor that comes from the brain and is determined by whatever one says it is. It could be your intelligence, your career success, your impact in society. Whatever one determines.

That being said, I think everyone should use their vaginas as they please. Have sex or don’t, one night stands or don’t. As long as you are happy, discover your body, enjoy yourself. Because even if you are a virgin, you still won’t live forever. Just be yourself and be happy with whatever choices you make

Q3. Between secondary school and tertiary, which alliances made is worth taking more serious?

SHS alliances are more important. My personal experience is that the friends I made in SHS shaped what I wanted to be and how I turned out eventually. I didn’t even know I wanted to be a chartered accountant till I met some ladies in 1 business 1 at WGHS. I have very few friends because the way I am, I cut people out easily but most of my SHS connections are still strong.

Talking of SHS, which girls’ school is your favorite after WGHS?

Holy Child School, followed closely by Aburi Girls

Q4. Should Ghanaians maintain the educational rule of making girls keep low haircuts before tertiary?

My general opinion on this is that kids should have a low haircut until a time when they will not cry when their hair is being braided or permed. I had a really traumatic experience of a 5 year old whose hair was being permed and the way she was screaming, people started trooping into the salon to see what was wrong. It was terrible. So I think they should allow kids have permed or braided hair if they can handle the pain and can keep it neat too.

Q5. You’re a chatered accountant. Can you tell more about your professional life?

I currently work as a senior consultant at Peverett Maxwell Limited. We consult for other companies in governance, change management and strategy management. I have been an auditor at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC Ghana and Rwanda) and also been a Busines Planning analyst at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals. Usually I have a lot of work ongoing becuase I have private jobs as a finance consultant. So usually I go to work on weekdays and continue after work on my private stuff. I am a very busy person but I make time to entertain on Facebook so some people think I am unemployed. But I no bore.

You do! On that note my next question is
Q6. You share your life with the world through social media and that has empowered countless women. What motivates that?

When I started sharing my stories it was just to get things off my chest because  I didnt want to talk to any one person about it so they thought they knew my “secrets” or that they can go gossip. I wanted to own my stories and take responsibility for my errors, and it escalated. After that, I think the motivation is basically to live fully, be happy, create humour and share as I move in life. Nothing is guaranteed so one day if I am no more on earth it won’t matter what I did or did not do. But maybe people will remember me for making them reconsider bad decisions and for making them laugh too.

Q7. Your view on politicians giving kayayes head pans and other goods for their work?

Hmmm when it comes to politics I’ve learnt that what one considers trivial is actually someone’s entire life’s need. To some kayayees head pans are all they need to feel like they have met their angel in life. It’s unfortunate that not all humans will have enough education or mental realisation to understand real issues and how to judge political schemes and promises. It is quite unfortunate but we as the intellectual ones will continue to work and enlighten others so people can hold politicians accountable to make better promises and execute them rather than these basic things.

Q8. Will it matter if your boyfriend doesn’t go on one knee before proposing marriage?

Oh not at all. There are a lot of things that are inconsequential to whether a marriage will be blissful- and having a blissful marriage is more important than the form the proposal or ceremony takes. He can even ask me while I’m on the loo and he is in the shower. Like “Jennifer, I think we should get married and make this ‘mpenatwe’ legal. Please what date will be good for you?” And I’ll give him date and we move on. Can’t kee masef with proposal. It doesn’t mean anything at all

Hahaha oh goodness, you’re something else ❣

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Q9. What’s the biggest lesson you learned in your twenties?

My biggest turnaround and lessons started in Feb 2019, about 4 months to my 30th birthday. And it was that the era of foolishness where we live based on assumptions, indoctrinations and societal expectations, which I believe must stop if one will ever live a fulfilled life.
And once that lesson was learnt my life has been so much better since then. I am not even exaggerating how awesome my life is now since I learnt that lesson

Q10. Which genre of music is your favorite and who’s your all time favorite Gh musician?

Eissh this one is a difficult question oo. My playlist is made up of all sorts of stuff. Can’t pick one genre but I listen to certain specific people no matter what they put out. Frank Edwards and Celine Dion. Even if they cough koraa I’ll go and listen.
Favourite all time GH musician dierr Daddy Lumba all day everyday. If he was younger I’ll be dying all over his music

Afia, your energy is incomparable. I love you girl and I enjoyed every bit of this interview.
Any last words?

🤗🤗🤗 thank you thank you. Love you too Alby.

Last words; everyone should leave everyone else to make their choices and deal with them. Yes, guidance should be provided, but allow others to pick and choose what works for them. True happiness is from within.

This has been 10 Questions From Nana Cady season 5 episode 6. Catchu next week for the 7th episode. Stay blessed.