Who Is Richard Nii Armah Quaye?

In October 2019, I won my third award— the 40 Under 40 Awards in the category of Authorship and Creative Writing. That same night, Richard Nii Armah Quaye won in the Investment category. It was an incredible year for me, filled with achievements and the opportunity to connect with many young, ambitious individuals.

I first saw Richard at the awards ceremony, and we crossed paths again when the Minister of Business and Development invited the awardees to his office for discussions on how to support us in our respective fields. I don’t recall whether we interacted directly, as I met many people that day. However, I do remember those to whom I gave copies of my books, like Kennedy Osei of Despite Media, Victoria Quaye of Naaviq Company Ltd., and a few others.

I don’t know Richard personally beyond what is publicly available on the internet and social media. However, winning a 40 Under 40 award is no small feat— it signifies excellence and a strong reputation. For that, I respect him. Every young person striving for success should be encouraged, as their achievements inspire those who believe it’s impossible to rise from humble beginnings.

So, congratulations, Richard, on your success in business. It’s never easy to thrive as an entrepreneur, but in Africa, where there are many loopholes, determined individuals can amass wealth faster. The system is too loose, making it easier to succeed if one is passionate and strategic.

Now, I’m not in a position to tell wealthy people how to spend their money. However, I can share my perspective on social issues in the hope of offering insight.

At 40, you are financially accomplished— you deserve to celebrate. But I struggle to understand why so much money is spent on bringing already wealthy celebrities to these parties. If they attend out of respect for you, that’s fine. But paying them to show up? What kind of validation or publicity is that seeking? I read— though I cannot confirm—that close to $3 million was spent on this celebration. If true, it makes no sense.

That money could have been used in far more impactful ways— funding hospitals, acquiring kidney transplant machines that are desperately needed, building libraries, schools, or supporting causes that change lives.

Here in America, I’ve observed that many scholarships in prestigious universities exist because of generous donations from millionaires and billionaires. David Geffen, for example, donated over $200 million to fund the David Geffen School of Drama and contributed millions more to Yale’s medical school. These are the kinds of legacies we should strive for— especially in Africa, where poverty and underdevelopment persist.

We celebrate too much in Africa, even in the midst of suffering and ignorance. There is nothing wrong with luxury, but it should be balanced with social responsibility.

Having been in various businesses in Ghana, I’ve seen how many wealthy individuals evade taxes— millions of dollars— only to waste that money on extravagant displays of wealth. And yet, people defend them, saying, "It’s their money; let them spend it as they wish." Yes, it’s their money, but many of them have exploited the system, deepening the struggles of the masses.

Now, Richard finds himself in trouble for failing to pay taxes— his accounts frozen. A smarter approach would have been to avoid such public displays of opulence, knowing it would attract scrutiny.

African youths who achieve financial success should focus less on celebrations and more on addressing the continent’s pressing challenges. Many African students abroad rely on scholarships funded by white millionaires and billionaires who have never met them. That should make us think.

We must move beyond the competition of who owns the latest car or who has the biggest mansion. True success is measured not just by wealth but by the impact we create. Let’s be wiser with our resources—just as the Americans are doing.

#WaterzYidana #Writer #Author #Activist