From a member of LUG’s pioneering class to a career spanning law, diplomacy and international affairs, Maxine A. Ansah’s journey reflects perseverance, purpose and the courage to keep moving forward.
Lancaster University Ghana (LUG) has honoured alumna Maxine A. Ansah with its Alumni Award in recognition of her exemplary personal and professional achievements and her continued commitment to making a meaningful contribution to society.
Maxine graduated from LUG in 2017 with an LLB (Hons), having joined the University in 2013 as part of its pioneering class. Since graduating, she has pursued a multidisciplinary career spanning law, international affairs, development and African media, guided by a keen interest in diplomacy, governance, women’s rights and Africa’s engagement with the international community.
Following her undergraduate studies, Maxine earned a Master of Arts in International Affairs and Diplomacy from the Legon Centre for International Affairs and Diplomacy (LECIAD) at the University of Ghana. She subsequently undertook her professional legal training at The Gambia Law School, overcoming significant challenges along the way before being called to the Bar of The Gambia in December 2025.
She currently works with MacCarthy & Associates in Accra, where her responsibilities include legal research, drafting, litigation support and other aspects of legal practice. Her broader professional experience also includes work in international development, international affairs and African media. In June 2026, Maxine participated in the World Bank Group Youth Summit in Washington, D.C., joining young professionals and development practitioners from around the world to explore issues shaping the future of work and development.
Accepting the award, Maxine reflected on what it meant to be recognised by the institution where her journey began. She recalled joining LUG at a time when the University was still establishing itself in Ghana, beginning her studies in the red building near A&C in East Legon before the University later moved to its A&C location.
Returning to the University’s Tantra Hills campus years later gave her a renewed appreciation of how far LUG had come. For Maxine, the transformation of the institution offered a powerful reminder that beginnings do not always reveal the full potential of what lies ahead. That lesson has also shaped her own journey.
During her professional legal training, what she expected to be a one-year programme extended over several years after she encountered setbacks in her examinations. Despite repeated disappointments and moments of self-doubt, she persevered, eventually passing in August 2025 and being called to the Bar later that year.
Reflecting on the experience, she shared a message that resonated with the graduating class: success does not always mean getting everything right the first time. Sometimes, it means being willing to try again, continuing despite uncertainty and refusing to let a difficult chapter define the entire story. “Your journey does not have to be linear to be meaningful,” she told the graduates, encouraging them to pursue their ambitions, remain curious, build meaningful relationships and be willing to take chances on themselves. Maxine’s professional interests continue to centre on the intersection of law, diplomacy and international public service. She is particularly interested in international law, inclusive governance, youth empowerment, women’s rights and the role of African perspectives in shaping global affairs.
Her journey also reflects the importance of the people and institutions that provide support along the way. In her acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude to her mother, family, friends, teachers and mentors for their encouragement throughout both the rewarding and challenging seasons of her life.
For Lancaster University Ghana, Maxine’s story is a reminder that alumni achievement extends beyond professional milestones. It is also reflected in resilience, personal growth and the determination to keep pursuing meaningful goals in the face of uncertainty. As she continues to build her career, Maxine remains focused on contributing to Ghana, Africa and the wider international community. Her message to the graduating class of 2026 was simple: be ambitious, be courageous and take the chance. Setbacks do not cancel potential, and a delayed path is not necessarily a defeated one.
Lancaster University Ghana congratulates Maxine A. Ansah on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates her continued journey of growth, achievement and service.
