Meet Ghanaian FullStack Developer Alfred Okang; He is the Founder and CEO of Pelfred Concept Limited Company, which focuses on website development, mobile app development, networking, SEO management, Software Development, Online marketing and Cloud services as well as technology mentorship! Alfred is not only into IT but also into entertainment as well. He designs, plans, and executes stage events such as drama, choroegraphy, Poetry, Hand Miming and career talk shows. We discuss his entrepreneurial journey and why he is striving to make a difference! Hi Alfred, tell us about yourself and your career path? I was born and raised to Ghanaian parents. My dad was in the army so i was raised by my mom on her own for the most part. Growing up with a Ghanaian parent, post-secondary education and a "stable" job was always encouraged and promoted in our household. Information Technology (IT) career paths were always frowned upon so naturally i thought the path to take was what most Ghanaian parents desired, is banking! I ended up being a business student in my secondary school. I absolutlely loved it because i was very good in mathematics (Core and Elective) and passionate about money but my interest was in IT. I remember i will always go to the internet Cafe after school and work as a Cafe Attendant. I was adviced by my Pastor to persue IT at Ghana Technology University, currently known as Ghana Communication Technology University. This was the best decision i have ever made in my life concerning my future and my career. I graduated with a First Class Honours in Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and served as a teaching assistant for a year. While i was in school, i was working and also teaching my mates whatever was taught in class because most of them prefer i teach them. What motivated you to start JobGhana? In a nutshell, my fear of becoming unemployed after my first degree motivated me to start JobGhana. Whilst in school, i started coding the scripts and every year i had to upgrade it although it was just a dream. During the lockdown, I found the process to be isolating and I had to endure a lot of the trial and error on my own. I used that moment to develop mobile apps and a lot of websites such as JobGhana to act as the mediator between job seekers and employers. Also, i wanted to help minimize the high rate of unemployment in Ghana. The dream wasnt big by then but as many clients came on board, i had to invite many people also on board to assist with work. What were the challenges and how did you overcome them? One of the biggest challenges was from my mindset; if really it would work and my investment wont go waste. The next challenge was getting jobs to post everyday and also getting employers to come on board. The next thing was getting jobseekers to use the platform i have developed. I cant list all of them but i went through all of them smoothly by the Grace of God. Money management, investing, and living way below my means were my keys to success and still are! Define what a JobGhana means to you? It means a dream come true. When i see annual users of 20000 and above solely in search of our assistance to secure a job in Ghana, I become excited and believe dreams do come true. I only wanted to give the youth a home to apply for jobs and get a reply as early as possible. I really know i cant solve everything but the joy is in also helping meet a need in my space or the country. Growing up who were your main inspirations and why? My mom was always an inspiration for me because I saw her taking care of children on her own; working minimum wage and having multiple side hustles simultaneously... My dad also inspired me alot on good work really pays! When I was young, he provided us with a different quality of life, so I was able to look to him as a guide on thriving financially, despite your obstacles. I also grew up watching people complete a level of education and end up unemployed. These stories someway somehow inspired me to be careful and mindful of the path i take and how to be a difference. Representation really matters. How do you stay motivated to keep going? A good morning and night routine helps me to have a dynamic start to my days and keeps my discipline sharp as well. My morning routine consists of 2 hours of me-time; so for the first 2 hours of the day I only interact with my energy. I journal, pray, meditate, work out, make breakfast, and try to read at least one piece of educational or self-improvement content. Sometimes I fall short but having that guideline and staying consistent with my morning and night routine helps me to stay consistent with my goals as well. Having a circle of friends who are also go-getters keeps me motivated as well because that winning energy is contagious! Tell us a bit about JobGhana and what you offer? JobGhana is a prominent career portal and employment platform operating across several regions in Ghana, with a strong focus in Accra. It serves as a bridge connecting job seekers with open vacancies from top companies, recruitment agencies, and NGOs. Some of our Key offers include: Diverse Job Listings: Daily updates on job opportunities across various sectors, including NGOs, graduate programs, manufacturing, and international organizations. Career Development: Articles, guides, and tips to help job seekers with CV writing, interview preparation, and overall career progression. Campus Initiatives: Outreach programs, such as campus ambassador networks, that train students on how to prepare for the job market and make community impacts What does a day in the life of Alfred Okang look like? No day is the same for me. Some days I work from the moment I complete my morning routine, all the way until I’m sleepy and it's time for my night routine. Some days I work for about an hour or two and spend the rest of the day with my loved ones, or keeping up with my fellowship duties. The best part about working for myself is that I get the freedom to create my weekly agendas. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? In 5 years, I see myself still running the JobGhana and continuing to positively impact as many peoples’ lives as I possibly can. I'm truly on a mission to serve my community and help others to find the jobs they want at their given location. I have more plans and wish to unfold them as the years go by.  If you could go back and give your younger self any piece of advice, what would it be? I would tell my younger self that everything is going to be okay, to trust the process and to not sweat the small mistakes (financially, career-wise, relationships, etc.). I'd tell myself that everything always works out in the end and if it doesn't, it isn't the end.