UofT

Alumni Profile: Jeff MacOsei (HBA 2009)


 “Se e hya broni..wo be di fufu.”  This Ghanaian-Twi quote contextually translates into : “When the appealing is not available, the available becomes appealing.”


This quote was the one thing from Ghana that resonated with me throughout my internship with Ghana’s Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA). The reason for this is, when I initially graduated in 2009 with my Honours BA in Political Science and Urban Studies, I did not picture my career beginning in Africa. I intended to find a job as either a Junior Urban Planner or Civil Servant locally, and then return to university to eventually do my Masters in Urban Planning. However, I quickly learned that landing a job as a Planner or Civil Servant was a lot more difficult than one might think.  Nonetheless, I remained undeterred and acquired an internship with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly in Ghana where I placed my urban planning theory and knowledge into practice.

My motivation for choosing Ghana was due to my familiarity with the country as I did a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) internship there previously. As a result, I understood the imminent need for Urban Planners in the capital city of Accra. Despite my history with the country, I still had some culture shock but quickly came to understand more about the work environment and I learned to not view things as good or bad,  but rather different.

My duties at the AMA consisted of doing administrative work as well as fieldwork. At the office, I reviewed maps, made calculations, drafted reports, and responded to inquiries from citizens, developers, and public officials. Conversely, in the field I participated in conducting surveys, talking with citizens, and most importantly preparing for meetings and presentations. Unfortunately, Accra is a city that has not dedicated sufficient efforts to Urban Planning in the past. Nevertheless, the efforts being undertaken by the AMA are admirable, and have turned urban planning into a priority for the nation.


Working within the Ghanaian Urban planning atmosphere has provided me with valuable and memorable experiences that I would love to share with other alumni and professionals within this field. Please feel free to connect with me through the Innis Alumni Network.


Jeff MacOsei
HBA 2009