Ghana's Youngest University Student Ambitious for Presidential Post

Talent is often revealed to people under some of the unlikeliest scenarios. It becomes a hallmark of sheer determination to scale heights no matter the norms and conventions set by society. This is the story of Viemens Bamfo, a 12-year-old boy in Ghana who has been admitted to study at the University of Ghana. 

Viemens Bamfo has reached great heights at such a very young age and in him lies a hungry spirit to achieve yet even grand levels. He harbours a deep, probably unrelenting, desire to become the president of Ghana who will ensure that the country has all its glory and absolute independence in all areas of political, economic and social dimensions. 

His story starts with his father, Robert Bamfo, who home-schooled Viemens and his older brother because of financial difficulties. Viemens'  brother recently graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. His father educated Viemens for the past 3 years. He taught his son various subjects which helped set the pace for Viemens to sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private students. He passed the exams and has since been admitted to the University of Ghana. 

Robert Bamfo's teaching method is the largest factor contributing to this success of such magnitude. Robert said, "We combined the syllabus… we used the Cambridge syllabus and the WASSCE syllabus… so I understood some basic things about [them]... What I teach first is dictionary skills so that the child is able to pronounce every word correctly. We do the phonetic skills and once that is done I teach Latin…for the sciences I do not give notes."

The young genius took Public Administration as his program of choice, and it will encompass enlightening studies such as Constitutional Law. He will also undertake Accounting. 

At the core of his highest hopes is a wish to become the leader of Ghana by being its president. Asked on why he wants to become a president, he told the BBC, "I want to become the President of Ghana, I want to lift high the flag of Ghana and make Ghana a truly independent country like China, the US, Britain and other countries." With such burning, untamed ambition of such a huge proportion, these hopes may one day be truly substantiated. Leading over a wholly independent country is a desire that seems a remote possibility to the majority of the African populace. 

There could be an alternating opinion to the child's achievements, with some arguing that this could have had the impact of making him lose the precious moments of his childhood. But Viemens said that he certainly has not lost the moments of his childhood since he is a creative person who loves creating things. His father is elated at the child's achievements saying he does not allow his child to defined by the "law of averages." 

It is truly inspiring to see such achievements from African young kings. It is a manifestation of the vast and immense potential that Africa's youth possesses. 

Header image credit - My Africa Today