Halfway Across the World

November 2025

George Ankrah grew up in Koforidua, Ghana. After high school he earned a degree in chemical engineering, served in the Uganda Kampala Mission, completed his military service required by the nation of Ghana, and then settled into a steady job working in the aluminum industry.

One day a multinational metals company reached out to Ankrah asking for his help and expertise in setting up a laboratory. But as he listened to the requirements, he realized he didn’t have the knowledge to accept the position, so instead he began looking into further education.

“I had a friend who was trying to go to school again, and he said he got admitted to BYU,” Ankrah remembers. “I said, ‘How do you have funds for BYU? How did you get admitted?’ I thought maybe I could try too.”

He was not admitted on his first attempt and was reluctant to apply again. But with the encouragement of his wife and friends, he submitted a second application and was accepted.

Becoming a student again required a transition, but Ankrah was grateful for inspiring learning opportunities.

“Schooling in the United States is better than what we have in Ghana,” he says. “It isn’t just learning from a textbook; you actually have a chance to experiment with what you’re learning about.”

Unlike universities in Ghana, BYU has the equipment required for Ankrah’s research. His thesis focused on autonomous electrorefining, which aims to maximize the yield in metal separation and purification using a programmable direct-current power supply.

“I remember the first time I used [the instrument for my thesis],” he says. “I was just practicing, but I could see the particles move and get attached to the electrode in real life. It really helped me appreciate the things I’d learned in my studies.”

When he returns to Ghana, Ankrah knows he’ll have greater opportunities and a broader career path than he did before. He’s even considering starting his own company. But regardless, he appreciates the support he received that made it all possible.

“I’m just really grateful for the opportunity,” he says. “I appreciate [donors’] generosity and kindness that make it possible for me to get an education.”