Director of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Prof. Peter Quartey says growing in Darkuman, a suburb of Accra during his formative years, greatly contributed to his success.
From a very humble beginning, little did he know that he would become one of Ghana's astute economists and an authority in poverty analysis in the country.
According to Prof. Quartey, Darkuman was a relatively impoverished community where he understood and appreciated what it meant to be poor.
Speaking to Ayisha Ibrahim on JoyNews' PM Express Personality Profile, the Director of ISSER said he learnt to break the shackles of poverty through dint of handwork, perseverance and being studious.
"You'll not see much development at Darkuman. You will see harsh life, people behaving in a certain way but I think I was very studious and for me, I didn't relate very well with the people. I kept to my books."
"Darkuman is a great community with diverse backgrounds so you'll learn to grow out of poverty. For me, that is what I took out so you know what poverty is and how poor people leave and how to manage your resources not to return to poverty," he said.
Prof. Quartey also recounted how he had to sell sugarcane, eggs, soaps, sugarcane, detergents, just to mention but a few to support the family and fund his elementary education.
He further revealed how he reclined to going with friends to play football at the community football park; just to avoid the scuffles that usually breaks after matches in Darkuman.
The Former Head of University of Ghana's Economics Department indicated that the environment where he grew up had a strong influence on his research interest into Poverty Analysis and Development Economics.
The Economist had his secondary education at the Wesley Grammar SHS and Accra Academy after which he gained admission to read Economics at the University of Ghana.
He holds MSc in Quantitative Development Economics and MPhil. Economics from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom and the University of Ghana respectively.
Prof. Peter Quartey is a PhD holder in Development Economics from the University of Manchester (UK).
Aside from being the Director of ISSER, he is also the Vice National Advisory Board Chairman of the Hunger Project in Ghana as well as the Board Member of Agricultural Development Bank Limited.
Prof. Peter Quartey is married with four boys.
Latest Stories
-
Parliament ratifies WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies, marking milestone for Ghana’s sustainable ocean governance
6 minutes -
Musk turns on Republicans – and gives Trump’s big bill a harder path
1 hour -
Putin will seek revenge for Ukraine drone attack, warns Trump
2 hours -
Musk urges Americans to tell lawmakers to ‘kill the bill’
2 hours -
Trump signs proclamation to restrict student visas at Harvard
2 hours -
US appellate judges skeptical of Trump birthright citizenship order
2 hours -
Energy Sector Levy raised GH¢9bn but power crisis persists – AOMCs CEO
2 hours -
NIB declares 3 more suspects wanted in $350m cocaine bust
3 hours -
GCB Bank to launch special ‘Hajj Account’ as part of inclusive financial offerings
3 hours -
Trump administration plans $1,000 fee to fast-track tourist visas, memo says
3 hours -
GH¢1 fuel levy eight times worse than scrapped E-Levy – Bawumia
3 hours -
Interior Ministry warns public against fake security services recruitment
3 hours -
Tanzania announces shutdown of X because of pornography
3 hours -
Education Minister condemns sexual harassment of female employees, calls for institutional reforms.
4 hours -
Court orders destruction of $350m cocaine intercepted in Ghana
4 hours