Raised amid instability and constant movement due to conflict in his home region, his early life was anything but predictable.
With limited access to formal education and frequent relocations from one village to another, his childhood was shaped more by survival than structured learning.
At one point, living in lakeside communities, his only visible future was to become a fisherman—simply because that was all he saw around him.
“In some of the communities I lived in, the only dream was to become a fisherman—because that’s all you saw,” Clemence Gyato now a respected figure in land management, international business and peacebuilding told The Mirror in an interview last Wednesday in Accra.
“Growing up, I didn’t have the luxury of a stable education—where you start primary school and move through smoothly. I am from the Nkonya-Alavanyo area and whenever there was unrest or shooting, we had to relocate.
“Then, my father had travelled abroad for further studies for about 10 years. During that time, my mother was left alone to take care of three of us. It was very difficult, so I had to move between different relatives just to survive,” he added.
Mr Gyato said things began to change when he was brought to Accra as a teenager to attend school at Kaneshie Anglican .
Later, when his father returned, they moved to a compound house at La where he remembers his friends including the late Komla Dumor who taught him how to read.
“My level was very low academically and I remember Komla gave me a Walkman. I would listen to music, write down lyrics and practice reading and writing English. That really helped me improve.”
After two attempts, he finally had a fair score and was admitted at the La Wireless Cluster of schools where he started middle school.
“Despite my poor start, I worked hard, became a school prefect and later gained admission to the Nkonya Secondary School to study science. After secondary school, I was supposed to study Biochemistry at Legon, but there was an issue with my date of birth. Instead of staying home, I went to training college and became a teacher”, he recounted.
He was posted to Gomoa Ayanfuri in the Central Region where he taught at a primary school, JHS, and even a secondary school—all at the same time.
Desire to travel
Mr Gyato said when he returned to Accra, he developed an interest in travelling out of Ghana.
“I went to Nigeria trying to cross to Libya—and I succeeded. I came back, tried Malaysia, but was turned back at the airport over a misunderstanding about my name.
Then I went to the United States, but the only jobs available were cleaning jobs. I wasn’t interested in just making money—I wanted to learn something meaningful. I didn’t see any growth in what I was doing, so I came back home.”
Back in Ghana, he continued teaching and doing business on the side. “I was doing private teaching and small-scale trading, so I could fund my travels myself,” he said.
Eventually, he got a teaching opportunity in China and moved to Beijing.
“That’s where I realised how far behind my education had been. Things we studied in secondary school in Ghana were being taught in primary school in China. So I challenged myself to learn and improve.”
China, he said, became a turning point. Studying international trade and business relations in Beijing, he was confronted with a stark reality: the gaps in his education—and in Africa’s global positioning.
Rather than be discouraged, he adapted—learning the language, immersing himself in the culture, and engaging in business, including importing and selling cars.
While in China, he said he also observed a recurring issue: African governments arriving at international business forums unprepared.
“They came with nothing—no data, no structured proposals. Just talk. And the Chinese didn’t take us seriously because of that.”
Determined to change this narrative, he returned to Ghana with investors and a vision to improve how business and governance intersect.
His early ventures in real estate showed promise but were abruptly disrupted, leading to a significant financial loss.
Reclaiming land
In 2012, he stepped into a new space—land management.
He said after recognising systemic gaps in how state lands were protected, he developed and proposed a model for land reclamation and protection.
After persistent efforts and multiple presentations to government agencies, he was given an opportunity to prove himself.
“I didn’t try just once. You cannot expect government to listen to you after one attempt.”
He went on to lead major land recovery efforts, reclaiming encroached state lands in key areas and building one of the most comprehensive datasets on state lands in Ghana.
Today, his work continues to influence land governance, with institutions relying on his expertise and data.
Peacebuilding beyond theory
His work with land led him into conflict resolution—particularly in areas where land disputes had escalated into violence.
Drawing from personal experience and deep community engagement, he played key roles in resolving conflicts and restoring stability in volatile regions.
In 2020, the National Chief Imam Osman Nuhu Sharubutu named him as a Peace Ambassador. He was honoured for his efforts in conflict resolution, notably in the Alavanyo-Nkonya dispute, as well as discord between Hohoe natives and Zongo youth.
His understanding of peace, he said , went beyond conventional definitions.
“Peace is not just coexistence. For a hungry person, food is peace. For someone in pain, relief is peace.”
Lifelong learner
Beyond his fieldwork and business ventures, he has consistently invested in his academic growth, reflecting his belief in continuous learning and capacity building.
He is currently completing a PhD in Population Studies at the University of Ghana. He holds an Executive Master’s degree in Conflict, Peace and Security from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.
He also obtained a degree in International Trade and Relations from the Beijing University, a Teacher’s Certificate ‘A’ from the St Francis College of Education, Hohoe and a certificate in Psychology and Forensic Investigation from the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
Mr Gyato said his greatest concern lies with the younger generation. He said he sees a growing culture of distraction—time lost to betting, social media and unproductive habits.
“If the youth don’t build capacity today, tomorrow they will do worse than the leaders they criticise.”
He mentioned reading, critical thinking and responsibility as values he believes are eroding.
For him, the solution starts at home.
“Give a child responsibility early. Let them take care of something. That is how leadership begins.”
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh