Internship Spotlight: Henry Maidoh - Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) 

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Family of Mr. Hodgson for his generous establishment of the Allan A. Hodgson Arts Internship Award. Your support enabled me to pursue an internship in Ghana that has been both personally and professionally transformative.

My name is Henry Maidoh, and I am currently a U3 Honors student at McGill University studying Political Science and International Development. As someone deeply committed to social issues and political discourse, I have always seen myself actively engaging in solutions that address pressing global challenges. Whether by directly influencing global policies and international law or simply giving back to my local community, I aspire to make the world a better place for future generations.

As a British-born Nigerian, relocating to Canada during the height of the Brexit debate, I experienced firsthand how international policy can both empower and marginalize communities. This formative experience deeply influenced my decision to study international law and pursue a career advocating for inclusive policies that address the needs of global citizens. However, I recognized that my exposure to different cultures has largely been filtered through academic study without direct engagement with the lived realities of those I hope to support. Additionally, as someone from the Nigerian diaspora, born and raised outside of Nigeria and Africa as a whole, I have long desired a stronger connection with my culture and to contribute meaningfully to the continent. Ghana, with its rich historical and cultural parallels to Nigeria, provided an ideal context in which to engage with West African perspectives, better understand regional dynamics, and develop cross-cultural competence. Thus, I applied for an internship with CDD-Ghana, a renowned independent, not-for-profit think tank that advances democratic resilience, good governance, and inclusive development in West Africa through rigorous research, civic dialogue, and policy engagement. In this light, CDD-Ghana offered an invaluable chance to translate my aspirations of elevating, disseminating, and defending human rights into meaningful, locally informed practice. Ultimately, I pursued this internship not only to deepen my understanding of the region I proudly come from, but also to shape myself into a more effective and responsible global advocate.

At CDD-Ghana, I contributed to the Ghana Cities Monitor (GCM) project—an initiative designed to provide timely, comprehensive data on the state of service delivery and quality of life across Ghana. I traveled to the Ashanti Region to co-facilitate focus group discussions with local duty bearers and civil society to contextualize the GCM performance data in sectors with low municipal performance. I played a significant role in drafting the final report by producing sector-level analyses, policy recommendations, and data visualizations using SPSS. Additionally, I supported the International Desk by attending ECOWAS-focused conferences. These included high-level discussions on the implications of the Alliance of Sahel States’ withdrawal and a youth-focused regional convening on ECOWAS reform. My responsibilities included synthesizing session notes into concise outcome documents and drafting a comparative policy analysis between the EU and ECOWAS, highlighting key lessons ECOWAS could draw from the EU’s successes and challenges. My academic background was instrumental in supporting these responsibilities. Essay writing in my Political Science and History courses sharpened my analytical skills, while coursework in African Studies gave me a strong competency in regional politics and development. My research methods course proved especially useful for the GCM’s data analysis portions, equipping me with the technical skills to work with statistical software and draw meaningful conclusions from raw data.

One major highlight of my internship was representing CDD-Ghana at the ECOWAS Regional Youth Conference. The event convened youth leaders and civil society from across West Africa to co-develop policy solutions and advocate for the institutionalization of youth participation in regional governance. It was incredibly inspiring to exchange ideas, identify shared struggles, and draw parallels between West Africa’s young leaders and ours in Canada. Another unforgettable experience was our fieldwork trip to Kumasi, where we spent several days engaging directly with local government officials and civil society. This immersive experience not only deepened my understanding of urban development but further exposed me to the rich multiculturalism within Ghana. One challenge I faced was managing the workload that came with working under multiple desks simultaneously. While I anticipated a fast-paced environment, balancing CDD’s overlapping project deadlines in practice was demanding. However, I overcame this by being transparent with my supervisors and clearly articulating my current workload and priorities. This communication helped set realistic expectations on all sides and allowed me to focus on each task with the clarity and attention it required.

This internship has solidified my commitment to a career in international law, with now a particular focus on human rights and policy advocacy across the African continent. I am sincerely grateful to the Family of Mr. Hodgson for making this opportunity possible. Your generosity allowed me to fully engage with this internship, immerse myself in Ghanaian society, and develop crucial professional and personal skills. I leave this opportunity better equipped, informed, and grounded in my purpose to make meaningful change.

Thank you for believing in students like me who are eager to push the status quo; the lessons I’ve gained will continue to guide my career and life.