BLACK CHALLENGE: Dr. Andrew Asamoah says Africans had to prove themselves inside the UN

Entrepreneur Dr. Andrew Asamoah says one of the biggest lessons from his decades-long career with the World Health Organization (WHO) was that Africans had to work harder than everyone else to earn respect.

Speaking to Kafui Dey, the founder of A&C Mall reflected on the realities of joining the United Nations system in the early 1970s, describing an environment where he felt minorities were judged before they had the chance to prove themselves.

“When you’re an African or you are a minority, you are considered guilty until you prove yourself not guilty. When you are a white person, you are considered not guilty until you prove yourself guilty.”

Dr. Asamoah said he never allowed that perception to discourage him. Instead, he saw it as motivation.

“For me, it was not annoying. I found it challenging. It was to prove them wrong.”

According to him, once people recognised competence and hard work, race became less important.

“One thing I’ve noticed is that once you work hard and they accept you, they forget your colour.”

His advice to young Africans hoping to build international careers is simple: work hard.

“Hard work.”

Dr. Asamoah joined the WHO after responding to a newspaper advertisement in Ghana for administrative staff to serve at the organisation’s African regional office in Congo-Brazzaville. Following a competitive interview process, he was selected, beginning what would become a long international career.