Mining Town to IMF: Ghanaian Economist Shapes Global Policy

Valeria Mensah couldn't afford to ride a bicycle when she arrived at Cambridge University in 2007, and she couldn't afford the tuition either.

Growing up in Obuasi, a mining town in Ghana, Mensah was raised by parents who worked as teachers and government employees. They believed deeply in education's power to transform lives, but Cambridge's tuition was far beyond what their public service salaries could cover.

When the Cambridge Trust scholarship arrived, it felt like answered prayers. "Receiving the Cambridge Trust grant drove home a new reality to me: that dreams could come true," Mensah recalls.

She made every moment count. While earning her Master's in Development Studies at Queens' College, Mensah volunteered with education nonprofits, joined student organizations, and even served as Master of Ceremonies for Ghana's independence anniversary celebration in Cambridge.

The rigorous academic program deepened her passion for international economics and set her on a clear path. After Cambridge, she pursued a PhD in Tax Policy and began a career spanning nearly two decades across multilateral institutions.

Today, Mensah works as an economist at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC. Her work focuses on tailoring economic solutions specifically for developing countries navigating an increasingly complex global economy.

The Ripple Effect

Mensah's impact extends far beyond policy papers. As a Mo Ibrahim Leadership Fellow at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in 2018, she helped advocate for the African Continental Free Trade Area before its ratification. She's worked on strengthening tax systems across African nations and leveraging digital identification to improve public services.

At the IMF, she shapes capacity development strategies that help member countries build stronger economies. Her Cambridge education gave her the tools to understand the distinctive challenges facing developing nations, knowledge she now uses to design policies that actually fit their contexts.

But perhaps her most personal contribution is mentoring. Mensah uses her own resources and networks to support students in Ghana, knowing firsthand what a helping hand can unlock. She co-chaired the Oxford-Cambridge Alumni Group in Ghana for years, creating pathways for others.

From a girl in a mining town who didn't know how to ride a bike to an economist shaping policies that affect millions, Mensah's story proves that investing in one person's education can change countless lives across continents.