AFRICA | A young Ghanaian man named John Elliot Hagan, has shown the world what resilience and determination can achieve.
From working as a cleaner to becoming a full-fledged journalist in the same organization, John has now crowned his remarkable journey with a Master’s degree in Media and Development from the University of Westminster in the United Kingdom.
His advanced degree was fully funded by the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, a testament of his remarkable story.
John's Story and How She Did It
John’s path to success began with significant setbacks. He dropped out of Senior High School in his second year after the passing of his father, a tragedy that left his family struggling.
As the firstborn, he made the painful decision to forgo his education so his younger siblings could continue school. With limited options, he secured a job with a cleaning company in 2004 and was posted to the Graphic Communications Group.
Unbeknownst to him, this difficult beginning would become the foundation of a life-changing journey.
Even as a cleaner, John’s humility, diligence, and friendly attitude did not go unnoticed. In 2007, a staff member engaged him in conversation and discovered his unfinished educational dreams. Moved by his story, she offered to sponsor his return to school.
At age 22, John enrolled at the Accra Technical Training Centre (ATTC) to study electrical engineering while still working part-time to support himself.
In 2011, a colleague at Graphic informed him of an opening at The Finder, a media company. He was hired as an office assistant, a role he carried out with integrity. When the office cleaner unexpectedly left, John voluntarily took on the additional cleaning duties to keep the office running smoothly.
His transition into journalism came unexpectedly in 2013. On his way to work one morning, John stumbled upon a dead body on the street. Drawing from years of reading reports at Graphic and The Finder, he wrote a story about the incident.
When he showed it to the editor, he received overwhelming praise and encouragement to write more. Soon, he began covering assignments. first on weekends, then more frequently. eventually earning a full-time position as a reporter at The Finder.
Driven to sharpen his skills, John enrolled in an adult diploma program at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ). His publisher sponsored his education, seeing the brilliance in him. John excelled academically, later pursuing a top-up degree at GIJ.
In 2019, he graduated with First Class Honors, receiving the award for Best Graduating Student.
John’s academic excellence and dedication earned him the Chevening Scholarship, one of the world’s most competitive and prestigious awards. Fully funded, he traveled to the United Kingdom to study Media and Development at the University of Westminster.
There, he deepened his expertise in journalism, communication, and global development — completing his Master’s degree and strengthening his impact in the media landscape.
Reflecting on his journey from cleaner to scholar, John encouraged young people to hold onto their values and stay diligent.
“You just have to be true to yourself,” he said. “You can start very small and not let people down. Show determination and prove to people they can trust you.”
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