Africa-Press – Rwanda. There is an adage which goes like seeing is believing and the new Rwanda epitomizes this old saying.
As a kid growing up in Ghana, I attended Good News Baptist Preparatory School for my basic education and my school was not far from a military barracks. Obviously, some of my classmates and friends were children of the “men in green”.
The first time I heard of Rwanda was from one of my friends and classmates Eric Adu, whose father was a sergeant in the Ghanaian army. His father was among the Ghanaian troops who were in Rwanda in 1994 for peacekeeping.
Eric used to tell us lots of stories, actually his father told him many things about Rwanda at home and, coming to school, he would gather us, his friends, and “lecture” us about Rwanda. Sometimes, showing us pictures. I vividly remember a photo he showed us of his father in a military uniform standing behind a pack of human skulls in a hole. That was my first time seeing human skulls.
As kids, we didn’t really know what it entailed. It was until I grew up and started reading books and surfing the internet that I got to really know and understand the Rwandan story of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Down the line, never did it ever crossed my mind that some decades later I would even attend university education and later working in that same country.
Coming to Rwanda was by fate. I had always preferred continuing my studies abroad for one reason: I needed an environment where I can fully concentrate.
While working in Ghana, my close friends and I had a car at our disposable…weekends starting from Fridays we blew time. We patrolled every night club in Accra and we didn’t sleep. I wanted to change environment and go all out as I knew my pedigree and what I am capable of doing.
I had initially applied to Vitsula University in Poland and University of Groningen in Netherlands. I was at the time managing former Rayon Sports striker Michael Sarpong when he was at the time playing for Dreams FC where I worked as part of their media team.
I got a deal for him at Kalamata FC in Greece, I took him to Abuja in Nigeria, but, unfortunately, he was denied a visa. It was around that time that a man called Alex Karenzi working at MTN Rwanda, through a friend of Sarpong, brought a trial deal from Rayon. I was in Dubai for holidays when Sarpong called me about Rayon Sports, I told him to go and I gave him my blessings.
During all his trials we used to chat every day, and he told me Rwanda is a good country.
When I asked him how education there, he told me there were couple of Ghanaians studying here. I searched online and I found East African University Rwanda (EAUR). I just liked the name of the school and I applied for it as my third option.
I had admission and scholarship in my first two universities (Vitsula University in Poland and University of Gronningen in the Netherlands). However, I wasn’t lucky. It was the time Covid 19 was at its peak. The entire Europe was in total lockdown; flights were at halt…so I couldn’t move.
The EAUR admission letter came. Rwanda was not on total lockdown and flights were moving so I took a gamble and decided to buy my ticket.
But Sarpong had left for Tanzania, I didn’t know anyone in Rwanda, I just went on x (twitter) and searched the sports journalist association of Rwanda page. I found a post by one lady there, Joselyne Tumukunde. I texted her privately, she replied and we started chatting and we exchanged numbers. We chat on WhatsApp almost every day and she told me more about Rwanda.
When I arrived at Kigali International Airport in January 2021 and had gone through the mandatory covid-19 scrutiny, she came and took me to her house.
First thing, I adored about Rwanda was the cleanliness of the streets, I said to myself, it is unusual for an African country to be this clean. At least I have been to several African countries over the years and they are not like this.
Then security, it was very strange to me because I wasn’t used to that, I could not imagine that I couldn’t walk like 15 minutes without seeing policemen patrolling. I really liked it because it prevented crime.
After some days with Joselyne, she took me to Nyagatare and helped me to rent a place. I started school and it was marvelous. I experienced the real Rwandan hospitality, people were very loving and caring. Even when the person couldn’t communicate in English, they would find any means to assist me whenever I needed help.
I observed my first Kwibuka commemoration in Nyagatare in 2021. I really felt the gloomy atmosphere, and I felt what happened. Rwandans really appreciate.
I remember the time I met one retired army officer in the neighborhood, when someone told him I was from Ghana, he shook my hand and said the Ghanaian army were very helpful during the time of the genocide against the Tutsi. He mentioned captain Anyidoho who made the Ghanaian troops to stay when other peacekeepers had deserted Rwanda in the peak of the genocide against the Tutsi.
When I take a look at the photos of Rwanda though the past 30 years on the internet, coupled with what I am see with my own eyes, I see great transformation. Rwanda has come of age and is now among the best countries on the African continent.
I graduated at EAUR as the best student in Mass Communication and I am now working for The New Times in Kigali which is the biggest English online media house in the country. It has been a smooth ride, I have been welcomed well and I have integrated so well into the Rwandan society. Rwanda now is my second home. Honestly, I didn’t expect the developments I have witnessed here.
And I wouldn’t be the first to say this, any foreign person from coming to Rwanda can give a testimony that is not far from mine. The country is a hallmark of excellence, Africa’s beacon of hope. With good governance and unity, Rwanda has risen from the ashes to becoming the face of Africa.
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