Eighty six year-old Rev. James Raymond Acquah shares his experience after graduating from Central University with a degree in Theology, after enrolling at age 81.
He was also awarded the Most Resilient Student at the university’s November 2025 graduation ceremony.
Speaking on Joy Prime’s Changes, monitored by NewsDesksGH on November 24, Rev. Acquah explained that his educational journey began in the 1950s when he attended Mfantsipim School from 1954 to 1958.
He later studied French at the University of Cape Coast before travelling to Nigeria, where he taught French in schools and provided private lessons until returning to Ghana in 2018.
He said his decision to return to school was driven by what he believed was an instruction directly from God.
“When I came back home God told me loud and clear that I have to evangelize, inspire and guide children in secondary schools,” he said.
“As I was evangelizing, God spoke to me again. I should not be an ordinary evangelist, I should be a learned evangelist.”
Rev. Acquah said his family supported his decision to pursue further education.
“They agreed and took me forward. They didn’t oppose,” he shared.
He also recounted one major challenge during his studies involving delayed payment of his fees.
He said his child in the UK, who sponsored his education, was late in sending the money for his school fees jus one time in level 200 which caused problems during examinations time.
“Because I had not paid my school fees at that time, somebody from the accounts department came to the exam room and asked me have I paid my school fees,” he said.
He recalled that he had completed three out of four exam questions when the official confiscated his answer sheet.
“He was not patient. There were 4 questions, I had written answers to 3. I was on the fourth question when he seized my paper, squeezed it in the presence of the other students. I was very hurt,” he said.
He revealed that they later settled the fees and the late penalty and he was then allowed to sit for his papers.
Reflecting on his achievement, Rev. Acquah said, “I feel delighted. I feel very grateful to God almighty for giving me the intelligence, determination, perseverance to go through all and then graduate at 86.”
