EPILOGUE
Life-writing serves to demonstrate to readers the whole process of the author's cognitive development (Dadashova, 2018). This book-Enough to be shared: A purpose driven name-A vivid life story application of George Appiah-Sokye is an autobiography (Aurell, September 2019; Beard, September 2019; Jensen, September 2019; Pihlainen, September 2019); written in response to the overwhelming requests from young people especially those in accountancy for mentorship. I have provided my knowledge and experiences, involving bitter-sweet life lessons surrounding a mixture of challenges, blessings, bitterness, failures, disappointments, frustrations; as well as, failed promises and unmet expectations.
By virtue of my purpose-driven name, I am convinced God has endowed me with enough lessons in life that are worth sharing. My name is characterized by good virtues- Appiah-Sokye (bearer of responsibility or literally hat carrier; or enough to be shared). It has been established without doubt that names depict the identity, personality, and character of persons.
I have enjoyed a long-run upward growth and trend in life. The Latin maxim-"Nemo dat non quid habet" means "you cannot give what you do not have" Suggesting that I cannot through this autobiographic process give out what I have not experienced or learned in life. Beyond that, life experiences should be relevant in order to be shared.
In this book, I provide the reader with my life story as a foundation upon which useful lessons could be drawn. I deem my personal experiences as the minimum towards the provision of purpose-driven lessons to be shared with all.
I have been influenced by a management framework-Johari Window, which is rooted in self-disclosure and feedback. I have made genuine efforts to tell most of my life story to the best of my ability against the backdrop of memory decay that comes with age. I have observed that my rate of recollection of events was good but the recollection of names has been the most challenging. I have realized that I am not as fast at recollection as I used to be when I was young. If you find your name omitted from any of the accounts, do not be offended because it was not intentional.
A lot of young people in the accounting profession and in the Christian community, as well as those in colleges have reached out to me for mentorship; and for that reason, the writing of this book will provide me with the opportunity to share my life with a wider target of interest.
I also deem the writing of this book as a way of giving back to society because of the investment society has made into my life. I have benefited from varied sponsorship across the educational spectrum such as free education, free tuition, educational loans and subsidies.
Unlike a biography, which is written in third person pronoun-s(he) by another, I have used the first-person pronoun (I) required for an autobiography in this book. Nevertheless, I do not place the emphasis on myself. By virtue of my name, I have the responsibility to share my life experiences with all through the writing of this book.
I have decided to document my life journey to commemorate my 57th birthday in written format in order not to forget them in my very old age. I may be enabled to update this story with time if need be. I have thus far lived a fulfilling life and I give the glory to God for His divine selection and protection. I owe it all to Him. I take responsibility for better-or-for-worse of the contents of the book. Thank You Very Much.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DR. GEORGE APPIAH-SOKYE (DBA, CA, CICA, FCIT, CPA)
Dr. George Appiah-Sokye has over thirty-five years of exposure as an accounting professional, academic, adjunct professor, and author; with experience in auditing, accounting, teaching, property management, taxation and fiscal policy, and many more. He has worked in various capacities and organizations in Ghana and USA. Currently, he works for the Youth Connection Charter School (YCCS) in Chicago as fiscal compliance auditors in charge of the following funds: SBB/Non-SBB, Facility Supplement, Supplemental Aid for the eighteen affiliate campuses. As an Adjunct faculty for the Graduate School of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), he has departmental approval to teach the following courses: Managerial accounting, Advanced auditing, Federal taxation of individuals, Tax research methodology: Practice and procedure, and Capital budgeting and financing.
Dr. George Appiah-Sokye holds Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree in Advanced Accounting (2016) from the Northcentral University in Arizona (USA); Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees with concentration in Accounting from the University of Ghana, School of Business Administration in 2001 and 1989 respectively. In-between these academic qualifications, he completed the final certificate in Taxation and was admitted into membership of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Ghana in 1995 and subsequently, awarded fellowship in August 2011. Likewise, he finished his professional examinations in Accounting with the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana in November 2006 and was admitted into membership in 2008. Similarly, he was admitted into membership of the Institute for Internal Controls in USA in 2009, as well as, completed and passed the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examinations with the Illinois Board of Examiners in September 2010. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) in USA and a registered CPA in the State of Illinois, USA.
He worked with the Ghana Institute of Professional Studies (now University of Professional Studies, Accra) from January 2004 to January 2012, where he taught: Public Sector Accounting and Taxation (undergraduate); Taxation and Advanced Tax Planning and Fiscal Policy, Corporate Reporting Strategy (ICAG); Corporate Financial Management (ICSA), Performance Management (ACCA), Financial Accounting Fundamentals (CIMA); and Advanced Taxation and Fiscal Policy (Graduate). Additionally, he was the Head of the Accounting Department in the Accounting Faculty and the ACCA Course Head.
He has served on a number of Statutory, and ad hoc committees in the Ghana Institute of Professional Studies, as follows: Member, Academic Board; Member, Time Table Committee; Member, Admissions Committee; Chairman, Student Hostel Outsourcing Committee; Chairman, Provident Fund Drafting Committee; Member, Oversight Committee of Business Development Centre; Member, Academic Planning Committee; Member, IPS-NAPTEX Course Project on Accounting and Finance; Member, Convocation; Member, Senior Members Disciplinary Committee; Member, Committee on IPSTA joining UTAG; Member, Accounting Faculty Board; Member, Sub-committees on Research and Conferences, and Exemption from Professional Bodies, etc.
Dr. Appiah-Sokye has attended several courses, conferences, workshops, seminars on: Securities Industry, Principles of Management, Strategic Management, Financial Management, Lobbying, Taxation, Oil and Gas Accounting, Christian Leadership, Theology, Shelby, etc.
He has been involved in the Credit Union Concept from the primary level to the national level; and for that reason, he served as Chairman, Board of Directors of the Internal Revenue Service (now Ghana Revenue Authority-GRA) Employees Co-operative Credit Union in Cape Coast and the Greater Accra. In addition, he also served as a Member, Secretary, and Chairman of the Supervisory (internal auditing) Committee of the Ghana Co-operative Credit Unions Association (CUA) Limited, Ghana for six years. He was Secretary to the National Service Personnel Association in 1985.