Ghanaian Journalist Fiifi Anaman Quits US PhD Programme Over Mental Health Concerns
Ghanaian sports journalist Fiifi Anaman has withdrawn from his PhD programme at Michigan State University in the US, citing mentalhealth concerns and a lack of interest in pursuing an academic career.
Anaman disclosed his decision in a statement shared on LinkedIn on Sunday, saying he plans to return to Ghana and begin a new chapter after realising that he did not have the passion or capacity to continue pursuing a PhD.
He described the period as difficult but expressed hope for the future, saying he was trusting God as he prepared to return home.
The journalist also appealed to his professional contacts to help him secure a well-paying job in sports writing or broadcasting, asking interested individuals to consider his experience and CV.
His announcement, however, attracted criticism from some social media users who described his decision to leave the programme as cowardly.
Responding in a Facebook post on Monday, Anaman questioned why sharing his personal experience to encourage others was being interpreted as a sign of immaturity. He challenged his critics to consider the difficulties he said he had faced before judging his decision.
Anaman disclosed that he had repeatedly stayed in mental health facilities over five years and recounted an incident in which he was taken to Accra Psychiatric Hospital on the night he launched a book he had spent seven years writing.
He also criticised what he described as hypocrisy among some of his critics, particularly those who profess Christianity but, in his view, failed to show understanding of his struggles.
Defending his professional record, Anaman highlighted his achievements in sports journalism, noting that he had written three books and won two of the most prestigious awards in his field in Ghana.
His decision to leave the PhD programme and his response to critics have brought attention to his personal experiences, the pressures surrounding mental health, and the challenges of navigating career decisions in the face of public scrutiny.
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