The Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu:

Child mortality rate was very high but the establisment of the Baptist Medical Centre (BMC) at the time was crucial to my survival. This hospital was established by Dr. George Faile from the United States of America. The facility has done a lot to assist the locals, Ghana and even neighbouring countries like Burkina Fasso, Togo and Ivory Coast. It has been noted as one of the best hospitals in Ghana. Taking the foot steps of his father, Dr. George Faile (Jr.) currently practices as a medical doctor in Nalerigu. God bless you!

Primary & Secondary School Education:

Growing up, I attended the Local Authority Primary School and the Continuation Middle School in Nalerigu. At the middle school form 2 level, I gained admission into Damongo Secondary School in 1974. My parents could not afford the cost of sending me to Damongo for high school education and so I travelled to Ejisu to seek assistance from my brother, Wlliam Wumbe. He got me all setup with my bucket and a wooden box to carry the required items to school (picture, top right). Rev. Green of Nalerigu Baptist Church volunteered to give me and other students a free right to Damongo in his pickup truck. It was a pleasant ride, Rev Green, thank you! I graduated from Damongo Secondary school in Science with a division 2 Ordinary level certificate in 1979.

Post Secondary Education:

Though I qualified for advanced secondary school eduaction, I decided to pursue a training college education to reduce the fanancial burden on my parents. Therefore in January 1980, I gained admission into the Kwadaso Agricultural College, Kumasi. It was my first time to interact with students from around the country. The college was adminstered by the then Ministry of Agriculture & Food. Graduates from Kwadaso Agricultural College at the time were automatically appointed technical officer II by the Ministry of Agriculture. Students enjoyed a small sum of money per month as allowance, but meals provided was of poor quality, and for those who could not find food from other sources, it was tough. Boys dressed sharply in white shirt, trousers and shoes for classes (picture, right).

Ministry of Agriculture & Food:

I graduated from Kwadaso Agricultural College in December 1981 and was posted to Navrongo, to work with the then Animal Husbandry Deparment at Doba, Upper East Region for one year practical experience. This gave me the chance to reconnect with my long time friend Rudolf Agamu at Doba. Monthly allowance was about 300 cedis and so life was tough. Daniel Alale, an environmental health inspector became my best friend. He was helpful in some diffcicult situations and has since been such a good friend. After 2 years in Navrongo, I was transfered to Bawku to work with the Animal Husbandry division at Bazua as an extension officer. I was housed in one of many housing facilities provided by the Ministry of Agriculture in Bawku. I travelled to Bazua about 10 km from Bawku, usually on my bicycle about 3 times a week and daily in the raining season to attend to my rice and peanut farms. Friends I made in Bawku were generally not trust worthy and so it was a difficult situation and a learning process for me.

In 1989 I was again transfered to Zebilla against my will to work as an extension officer for the Tanga area- the struggle continues. However, I did report for work at Zebilla and in addition to my Agricultural Extension duties was able to establish and run the Red Cross Society as District Organizing Secretary. I created 4 women's groups under the Red Cross Society and liased with a Peace Corps Officer, David Banks to get tree seedlings for aforestation projects. Trees these women groups planted would go a long way to slow down the fast approach of the Sahara desert from the north. Some women were selected and trained as midwifes to improve safe child bearing, home sanitation and child nutrition. Aids awareness days were orgnised to train selected local women to promote a healthy family life at the village level.

Studying In Canada:

I first applied at the Canadian High Commisson in Accra., to study in Canada at the School of Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan in 1990 and was accepted. I was not able to acquire my student authorization to enable me report for classes that year due to financial costraints. In 1991, I started processing my student authorization early and was given the the permit to study in Canada. I arrived in Canada in late Semptember and started classes in early October 1991-believe it or not.

I spent 2 years in the School of Agriculture and transfered into the bachelors program. I graduated from the College of Agriculture in May, 1997 for my bachelors (B. S. A.) degree in Agriculture with honours in Applied Microbiology and a minor in Crop Science (picture, low right). I got accepted into the College of Graduate Studies & Research the same year to study under the supervision of Dr. Martin Erlandson of Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada and Dr. G. G. Khachatourians of the Unversity of Saskatchewan. I dealt with the effects of temperature on nucleopolydrosis in the Bertha Armyworm (biological control). I graduated for my masters (M. Sc.) degree in May, 2001-thank God!

Working In Canada:

I am currently a Soil Biochemistry Technician at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Center in Swift Current; Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada. I am part of a team working on the effects of fertilizer, fallow system, crop rotation (legumes and cereals) and tillage methods (zero and conventional) on nitrous oxide emissions. Nitrous oxide is an active agent in ozone destruction and global warming. Gas samples are taken from the field and analyzed by Gas Chromatography in the laboratory.