In an interview with Irene Adubea Aning on The Career Trail program, Dr. Orleans-Lindsay shared how a short break from school, while preparing to study abroad, led him into a vegetable business that almost made him quit school.

“When I stayed home waiting to travel, I decided to start a vegetable garden, and I nearly stopped school because I was making so much money even then,” he recalled.

He explained that he cultivated cabbages and carrots on spare land near his home in a newly developed area. Within a short time, the small farm became one of the most successful in the community and started attracting regular customers.

“Every Saturday, I was getting so much money I nearly stopped school,” he said.

That experience came after he had travelled to Hungary for studies, where language barriers made it difficult for him to continue.

Dr. Orleans-Lindsay said this came after his experience studying in Hungary, where the language barrier made life extremely challenging.

“When I got to Hungary, the language was very difficult. Even in class, you couldn’t understand what the lecturers were saying. It made learning tough, and I couldn’t continue, so I decided to come back home and take a break,” he revealed.

Back in Ghana, he decided to make use of his time by starting a small vegetable farm.

What began as a simple project soon became a thriving business that almost diverted him from his academic path.

He said it took his mother’s intervention to change his mind about quitting school.

“My mother helped me in life. She insisted I get the books right,” he noted.

He encouraged young people not to look down on small ventures, saying that humble beginnings can grow into meaningful businesses if handled with dedication.

According to him, those early lessons shaped his approach to business and leadership. The discipline and entrepreneurial mindset he developed through farming later influenced his success in real estate.

Dr. Orleans-Lindsay, however, emphasized that education remains essential, noting that his current role as Chancellor of Cape Coast Technical University is proof of how academic growth complements entrepreneurial success.

Source: Irene Adubea Aning

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Speaking on The Career Trail programme on Joy Learning TV and Joy News, Dr. Orleans-Lindsay recalled that after earning his master’s degree in Construction Management from the University of Salford in Manchester.

He continued to pursue a PhD in Construction Management at the University of Hertfordshire, also in the United Kingdom.

According to him, life as a student in the UK was far from easy. He recounted how financial challenges nearly derailed his academic ambitions.

“After my study at Hertfordshire, it took me ten years to finish paying my school fees and pick up my certificate. You can imagine. It was difficult going through. By the time I was done, I had piled up debts, and they wouldn’t issue my certificate until I cleared everything,” he said.

Despite the hardship, Dr. Orleans-Lindsay described the experience as a defining period in his life, teaching him resilience and perseverance, qualities that later shaped his success in business.

Today, the entrepreneur leads one of Ghana’s top real estate companies, JL Properties, and continues to inspire young people through his story of determination and hard work.

Source: Irene Adubea Aning

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Speaking on The Career Trail programme aired Joy News and Joy Learning TV, Dr. Orleans-Lindsay recounted how his desire to contribute to national development and create lasting value inspired his bold decision to return home.

“At the time, I had a good job in the UK. But deep down, I knew that wasn’t where I wanted to end. I wanted to come back home and make an impact, to build something that would outlive me,” he recalled.

According to him, the transition from a secure job abroad to starting a business in Ghana came with numerous challenges, including financial strain and bureaucratic hurdles. Yet, his determination and faith kept him grounded.

“It wasn’t easy. There were times when things didn’t go as planned, but I kept reminding myself that purpose is greater than comfort. I believed in Ghana’s potential and wanted to be part of the transformation,” he added.

Dr. Orleans-Lindsay’s return eventually led to the birth of JL Properties, one of Ghana’s most respected real estate firms, known for turning neglected lands into modern residential communities.

He noted that his journey stands as a lesson for young professionals in the diaspora who may be contemplating similar moves.

“If you have a vision for your country, don’t let fear stop you. The systems here may not be perfect, but there are opportunities everywhere. You just have to be ready to sacrifice and work hard,” he advised.

Through JL Holdings, Dr. Orleans-Lindsay has since expanded into multiple sectors, including construction, energy, and logistics, a proof of his belief that local innovation can compete globally.

Source: Irene Adubea Aning

Speaking on The Career Trail programme on Joy News and Joy Learning TV, Dr. Orleans-Lindsay revealed that the incident happened at a time when his real estate firm was beginning to gain momentum.

The loss, he said, was so devastating that it almost pushed him out of business completely.

“I lost $1.3 million through a scam. I pride myself on being among the topmost people when it comes to knowledge of land history in Accra. So for me to be deceived by somebody, it was painful. It was all tears because it was a client’s money I had handed over to the buyer,” he recalled.

He explained that the deal involved a piece of land with documents that appeared legitimate in every way, only for him to later discover that the papers had been expertly cloned.

“The idea was that it was X amount the client was paying me, and I was making Y. I was making such a margin that it looked too good, but the guy had done it so well. He cloned the title, everything,” he explained.

“When someone clones a land title or document, you take the site plan to Lands Commission to do a search. When they do the search, the names will all come, but the document he’s holding is cloned. So all the details match, and you wouldn’t doubt it. He even had a passport and driver’s license to go with it,” he continued.

According to him, the emotional and financial toll of the scam was immense, but he chose to focus his energy on rebuilding rather than pursuing the scammer.

“Though it was a difficult moment for me, I soldiered on. It was not the end of the world. I mean, I looked for him all over the country. Anytime I got to a place, they would say, ‘Oh, he just left here.’ So at a point, I stopped searching and comforted myself,” he noted.

Dr. Orleans-Lindsay said the ordeal taught him a business lesson that has stayed with him ever since.

“One of the lessons people should know is this: don’t throw good money after bad money. The energy I put into looking for him, if I had diverted it somewhere else, could have generated more money for me. But those are lessons you learn,” he advised.

“It was a tough moment, but I didn’t stop. I started again, this time wiser and more careful,” he concluded.

Source: Irene Adubea Aning