'I nearly committed suicide twice' – Elikem Kotoko recounts $497,000 business loss

Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forestry Commission, Elikem Kotoko, has opened up about a difficult period in his life when he nearly took his own life after suffering a major financial loss.

Speaking at a Youth Forum, Elikem Kotoko disclosed that he contemplated suicide twice following the loss of about $497,000 worth of his business during the June 3, 2015, floods at Circle in Accra.

According to him, he was about 31 years old at the time and struggled to cope with the devastating financial setback, which left him feeling that his life and prospects had completely fallen apart.

He said the experience, however, taught him the importance of patience, discipline and endurance, stressing that young people must not allow temporary difficulties to push them into making irreversible decisions.

“I nearly committed suicide twice before because, on June 3, 2015, the Circle floods caused me to lose close to $497,000 worth of my business. I was 31 years or so. I felt like my world had shattered. There was nothing more to do, but here I am today. Imagine I had killed myself. If you are not disciplined, if you cannot endure, and you are not patient enough, you may even outstep your own opportunities,” he said.

We are correcting the bad system we inherited – Elikem Kotoko

Elikem Kotoko urged young people going through difficult circumstances to remain resilient and avoid allowing setbacks to convince them that their situation will never improve.

He also encouraged members of the NDC youth wing not to allow political pressure or attacks from their opponents to negatively affect their mental and emotional well-being.

Addressing the youth, Kotoko cautioned them against allowing the NPP’s criticism or perceived attempts to frustrate them to push them into despair, particularly now that the NDC is in government.

“You didn’t even die when we were in opposition. So is it in power that you will die? Don’t let the NPP make you feel that they are laughing at you and therefore, you fall victim to that. They are frustrated and in a way to make them feel okay, they have to transfer some of that energy to you so that you also begin to feel negative,” he added.

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“I nearly committed suicidal on two occasions. On June 3rd 2015, I lost close to $497,000 dollars of my business to the flood.” —- Elikem Kotoko, National Deputy Organizer of the NDC shares at the Hohoe Youth Forum.

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