Women in Academia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cynthia Amamoo (Ms.)

Ms Cynthia Amamoo is a married woman who hails from Gomoa Nyanyano with a girl child and two dependants. She worships with the Church of Pentecost and teaches English at the Wesley Grammar Secondary School but has been in the teaching service for 10 years.

She shared that her father got annoyed after her elder sister got pregnant in school and vowed never to educate his female children of which she was the last born. Various attempts to convince her father to further her education to the senior secondary school all failed. Therefore, the presiding elder of her church took it upon himself to sponsor her through her secondary school education. Unfortunately, the man was transferred to a different place. She did not want to be a burden on the man and so decided to start selling gari and other things to support her secondary education. She continued trading till she was ready to leave for the teachers training college. She informed her Daddy,who gave her 5000 Cedis for transportation because he was so embarrassed. At the training college she was conscious as to how to spend her allowances since help was not coming from any where.

She later attended the University of Education Winneba where she obtained a Bachelor in Education (English).

For challenges she faced in her work, she complained students were not receptive when being taught so one has to explain for longer hours before they get to understand a point. At times, students have to be even forced to learn. She suggested that parents should help teachers control students since they are becoming too stubborn.

She is inspired by God and Mr. S.S Okyere (Elder of Pentecost) and her husband. Looking into the future, she wants to further her education and stop teaching since the salary is meagre and the work is stressful. She has been investing in businesses to support her wards education so that they do not face difficulties in their education as she experienced. She hopes to see a Ghana where women would not feel inferior but trust themselves that the little they have they can make something out of it. They should also focus on what they want to be and should not be satisfied with their present achievement but strive ahead to making their voices heard.