Ghanaian BBC journalist details emotional story to why his granny walked up stage with him to graduate

Ghanaian journalist, Emmanuel Kojo Koranteng, who works with the BBC World Service, recently earned a Master of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies from the prestigious University of Sussex in the UK.

According to him, this achievement wouldn't have been possible without the unwavering support of his grandmother, Comfort Larley Lartey.

In a Facebook post, Emmanuel paid tribute to his grandmother, who he says has been his pillar of strength from the very beginning.

He also used the occasion of announcing his graduation to share with the world the story surrounding his birth and how his grandmother became everything he has ever known as a parent.

"My parents were just teenagers when they had me. Mum was 16 and dad was 19. As you may be suspecting, I wasn’t a part of their plans, at least not at that point in their lives. So, they tried, albeit without success, to ‘take care’ of the problem," he narrated.

Emmanuel's explained that his early life was uncertain, but his grandmother’s selfless dedication turned his story around.

When he was just six months old, his teenage mother took him to his granny and never returned.

"All attempts to reach her failed; no breast milk, no kangaroo mother care, no weaning - just straight to Banku (lol)," he shared.

A promise to honour his granny

Since learning about his birth story in Primary 4, Emmanuel said he had always wanted to honour his granny in a special way.

Whether through his childhood promise to buy her an airplane or by making her as comfortable as possible, he was determined to show his gratitude.

On his graduation day, Emmanuel had a surprise for his grandmother.

When she thought she was only going to sit among the crowd and cheer her grandson on, he had other plans.

"I had other plans, enabled by the amazing graduation officials at the University of Sussex. I would have made her take my place entirely if I could—because all I wanted was to cheer for her and say well done! She had earned that Master's degree just as I had," he stated.

Emmanuel also took the opportunity to express his heartfelt gratitude to the individuals who have played significant roles in his journey, providing support and guidance when he needed it most.

He also acknowledged that there were times when his grandmother's strength and his own efforts were not enough, but thankfully, these individuals stepped in to help, some of whom are also other journalists in Ghana.

"Whenever my granny's strength was not enough, and I couldn't do it by myself, God brought you to fix things. You didn't have to but you did. God bless you Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Emefa Apawu, Araba Koomson, James Barnor, Stephen Antah, Ken Ansah and everyone who has been a part of this project called Emmanuel Kojo Koranteng," he stated.

Emmanuel's journey is an example of how love and support can conquer even the most daunting challenges.

His grandmother's unwavering dedication and his own determination have created a truly inspiring narrative that will continue to touch hearts and motivate others to strive for greatness despite adversities and struggles.

JKB/AE

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