Birmingham News Article on Mr. Albert Anson:

Fairfield students urged to work hard

Friday, April 17, 2009

ROY L. WILLIAMS

News staff writer

Albert Anson told students at Fairfield High they need to take advantage of the American free enterprise system because it rewards those who educate themselves and work hard.

"You can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it," Anson, 45, told members of Constance Harris' senior economics class on Thursday. "So many people in America who were born with little money have made a success in life through hard work and education."

In a 90-minute speech, Anson shared his unlikely move from life as the prince of a tribe in Ghana to becoming an American citizen and Birmingham entrepreneur.

He grew up in a royal household with his mother also queen mother over his tribe, and he got a college education in England and New York. He could be living anywhere in the world, Anson told the students. The Pelham resident said he chose the U.S. because he values this country's free enterprise system.

In Ghana, a country of 22 million people in western Africa, only folks born into well-to-do families have the opportunities for success Americans do, Anson said. Born in Ghana's capital of Accra, Anson's mother is Queen Nana Dawa Aseieua II, head of a tribe in the eastern part of the country.

Exposure to U.S. teachers with the Peace Corps inspired Anson to pursue higher education outside of Africa. He spent 20 years as an executive with a subsidiary of Air France, an air charter company in New York City, and Park East Safaris, a tour operator that does business worldwide.

After transferring to Birmingham to run Park East's operation here, Anson a few years ago started his own agency, All Africa Expeditions in Pelham. On May 1, he is opening a second company, JTK Travel, a full-service travel agency inside the Riverchase Galleria.

Anson said he learned not to take any day for granted after he missed the doomed United Flight 93 that crashed into a Pennsylvania field after hijackers took over the plane. "For 48 hours, they had me listed as dead because my name was on the list," he said. "It changed my perspective on life."

That's a reason he is not afraid to take risks in business, Anson said.

"For me to come here to Alabama and focus on opening a travel agency at a time when so many people are losing their jobs is a bold step, but I'm a firm believer that people here will want to learn about and experience Africa and other parts of the world," he said.

Birmingham now has a sister city relationship with Winneba, Ghana. This fall, a group including Birmingham City Councilman Roderick Royal will tour the country as both cities seek to develop business opportunities, Anson and Royal said.

Anson, who also owns two fishing camps in Ghana, said he is proud to tell his family and friends back home about how blacks and whites have moved beyond Birmingham's racist past.

"I've traveled and lived around the world, but would rather live no place else now," Anson said. "Sure I miss my family back home, but my mother is proud that her son lives in America."

E-mail: rwilliams@bhamnews.com

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