During the first 12 months of his exposure to the United States, Peter was astounded by the differences between the U.S and Ghana, where he grew up. The basic infrastructure in the U.S alone led him to start asking, “Why”? As he continued to ask why, three themes emerged; sacrificial leadership, investment and higher education. Peter became convinced these three themes are the foundational reasons why the West is far ahead of Ghana and the rest of Africa today. At the time, Peter became convinced that leadership is about selflessness and the empowerment of individuals and society. Peter also noted a strong “spirit of investment” where both rich and poor are willing to put their resources towards individuals’ and society’s overall advancement. Finally, he noted there were significant levels of “investment in higher education” (colleges and universities). According to him, he felt as though there was “a university on the corner of every street” in America after searching the internet for the number of universities and colleges in America at the time compared to what he grew up within Ghana.
Among the themes identified, Peter became certain that higher education was the “hope for Ghana and Africa.” He realized he could sacrifice and invest towards the creation of higher educational opportunities in Ghana to bring an enhanced future to many. As a result, Peter began exploring and comparing differences in the number of post-secondary and higher educational institutions in Ghana compared to Oregon, where he lived in the U.S. He quickly discovered Ghana and Africa had a severe lack back in 2005.
Coupled with his challenges of accessing higher education in Ghana, the exceptional experience he had at Warner Pacific University and Regent University and his passion for essence in African leadership, Peter decided in 2005 to pursue the dream of founding a university (Palm) with a strong focus on Africa grounded on excellence and ethical leadership to facilitate the process of educating leaders in Africa who will assist in identifying short and long term solutions to many challenges of the continent. He started with only $50 in Portland, Oregon.
In order to help realize his vision of founding a university to educate ethical and excellent leaders in African, Peter founded the Palm University Foundation and has created scholarship funds in honor of individuals who have impacted his life in one way or the other while growing up in Ghana and living in the United States. All the individuals he named the scholarship funds after have been significant supporters of the work of the Foundation since its inception.
The Palm University Foundation
The Palm University Foundation was founded in March of 2006, and is named after his mother (Naa Amerley Palm) who passed away a year after Peter settled in the United States.

Peter and his wife Beth Okantey thought it was relevant to name the Foundation and university after his mother because of her investments in his education and life in general. Palm University Foundation has provided scholarships to high school and university students in Ghana since 2006.

The Foundation currently awards scholarship to Palm University College students through the Florence M. Hutchful & Family Scholarship Fund, the Lee Nusich & Lane Powell Scholarship Fund, the Matthew S. Essieh & Family Scholarship Fund, the Robert and Susan Smith Scholarship Fund, the Mike and Mary Delk Family Scholarship Fund, and the Nathan Howells Scholarship Fund.

Palm University Foundation is run by a board and advisers from business and academe in Ghana and the United States.