Finding shared values in Ashesi: the story of the Vorgbes

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Three of them, brothers Emile, Delali and Kafui represent a decade of Ashesi history

In the Vorgbe household, conversations around Ashesi are plentiful, and no one is a spectator - not Francis or Annie Vorgbe, or any of their four sons, three of whom have graduated from Ashesi. Essentially, each member of the family has become a stakeholder, sharing in the collective Ashesi experience.
For Francis and Annie, choosing Ashesi was not just a family decision, but one that proved to be the best-fitting puzzle piece for deepening and expanding the values their family holds dear. “We recognized that our values as a family aligned with Ashesi’s values of citizenship, leadership, honour, hard work and a balanced life,” explained Francis. “This gave us the hope that Ashesi would reinforce in our boys the values that we held dear as parents, in addition to the advantage of smaller student numbers.”

[Victor Kafui Vorgbe '16 graduated Summa Cum Laude]

In 2005, when Francis first heard Patrick Awuah talk about Ashesi in an interview on a local radio station, he was convinced this young liberal arts college was up to something. Following this, Emile, their first son, enrolled at Ashesi, and his experience left no doubt in the parents' minds about the decision they made. “The hugely positive impact of Ashesi on a naturally reticent Emile, assured us that we had made the right choice in persuading him to select Ashesi,” he said. “Delali and Kafui who followed in his footsteps did not even fill forms for any other university; it was unquestionably Ashesi.”

[Francis Delali Vorgbe '14, past recipient of Ashesi's Presidential Award]

Not only have the Vorgbe boys been impacted by Ashesi, but Francis and Annie have also been beneficiaries, imbibing some of the very core tenets that guide the school’s course. “Is there an Ashesi parent who has not heard of the honour code?” he says. “The voluntary acceptance to do the right thing even when no one is watching; not to lie, steal or cheat and to decide not to tolerate those who do? This concept and its usefulness have been the subject of long debate and discussion at our home and family outings, with our youngest son, who is now in senior high school, determined not to be left out of the banter.”

[Emile Vorgbe '10, flanked by his parents, Francis and Annie, graduated Cum Laude]

Of the 144 members of the Class of 2016 who graduated, about 11% have siblings who are either Ashesi alumni or are currently enrolled in the school. Increasingly, families are making Ashesi the choice for educating their next generation. For the Vorgbes, Ashesi not only represents an excellent choice, but also a beacon of hope. “Ashesi has given us hope,” says Francis. “Hope about the limitless possibilities available to young, well-trained minds, imbued with solid values to raise the bar of leadership which this world, especially ours, is so much in need of.”

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