A brilliant African man named Gerald Arhin has overcome significant challenges to earn a Master’s degree from the prestigious University of Cambridge. Now, he is on track to earning his PhD at the University of Manchester, proving that visual impairment is no barrier to success.
Gerald lost his sight at the age of six due to a botched surgery intended to treat his glaucoma. Reflecting on his early struggles, he recalled how he almost gave up on life,
His vision problems began at five years old, leading to an operation on his right eye. However, complications soon affected his left eye, and after a second surgery, he lost his sight completely.
He was then moved from a regular school to a specialized school, where he learned Braille. With his newly-found situation, a doctor’s encouraging words gave Gerald hope, reassuring him that visually impaired people could still make a difference in society.
Gerald credits much of his success to his mother’s unwavering support. Despite financial struggles and the responsibility of raising Gerald and his two half-siblings alone, she prioritized his education.
“She did not listen to those who doubted the worth of investing in a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 with a disability,” he said. With her determination, Gerald attended Akropong School for the Blind, where he excelled academically.
He also learned to navigate life as a blind person, mastering specialized learning techniques and using assistive technology, such as screen-reading software, to read and write on computers.
He went on to Okuapemman Senior High School where he was elected School Prefect, making history as the first visually impaired student to be elected Head Prefect.
After completing high school, Gerald proceeded to the University of Ghana, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy in 2018. His outstanding academic record earned him a full scholarship to the University of Cambridge, where he obtained a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in African Studies.
Following his Cambridge studies, Gerald received four PhD offers from various UK universities. In 2020, he chose the University of Manchester to continue his research.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of his scholarship funding, forcing Gerald to start a GoFundMe campaign to support his research. Despite these setbacks, he remained resilient, drawing strength from his mother’s sacrifices.
“Anytime I’m facing some sort of hurdle like what I’m facing right now, I remember what she was going through at the time and I tell myself that my mother did a lot of things to get me here. I can’t afford to give up,” he said.
At the University of Manchester, Gerald’s research focuses on the impact of natural resources on local communities.
His interest was sparked in 2007, when Ghana discovered oil in commercial quantities. He noticed a troubling pattern—many regions with natural resource wealth often suffered from conflict and exploitation.
“My concern is about the people living in the concession areas—how this impacts their lives and how their conditions can be improved.” With his research, Gerald hopes to ensure that Ghanaians fully benefit from their country’s natural wealth, rather than falling victim to the resource curse.
