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Honouring young achievers: meet some women on philanthropic mission
All is set for the announcement of the top ‘Forty under 40 Achievers’ for year 2022, later today at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra.
The award would be conferred on nominated young people with the highest public votes in each of the categories. A fortnight ago, the focus was on some of the candidates selected randomly from all 40 categories.
This week, the spotlight is on the women competing in the Philanthropy and Charity Category, as provided by the organisers. There is more to follow after we know who wins what at the main event.
Ms Henritta Somuah
Popularly known as Nhyiraba Herty, she is the Founder of Touching Lives Outreach International, a registered entity which has been operating for over 10 years. She holds Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting from Takoradi Technical University (TTU).
Henritta reaches out to orphans, women and girls, street children and underprivileged persons. Through her educational and vocational training projects, many girls and vulnerable youth have acquired vocational skills while others have also established small scale businesses to support themselves and their families.
Some children she had helped rescue from the streets had been enrolled in her charity school called Touching Lives Educational Complex which provides free tuition, while supporting some of the beneficiaries to further their education to the secondary and tertiary levels.
The initiative had earned her recognition as she has secured land to construct a seven-unit classroom block, vocational training centre for women and girls, a computer lab, and other facilities at Kwei, a remote community in the Western Region of Ghana.
Naa Kuorkor Mayne-Eghan
She holds a degree in Sociology and Economics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
She is committed to supporting mothers of sick and premature babies by donating hospital equipment and providing for newborns and their mothers.
She leads ‘The Jay Foundation’ which, in July 2020, built and furnished a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Mothers’ Shed at the Keta Municipal Hospital. It again donated about GhC 300,000 to NICUs in some hospitals and health facilities across the nation since 2019, mainly to support preterm and sick infants; their mothers and the hospitals.
Some of the hospitals include the Tema General Hospital, Nsawam Government Hospital, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Shai Osudoku Hospital, Keta Municipal Hospital, Banda District Clinic, Bamboi Polyclinic, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, and Wenchi Methodist Hospital.
In spite of challenges, she and her team continue to lessen the burden on mothers, new borns and facilities they reach out to, across the country.
Ms Esther Tibila
She is an enthusiastic social entrepreneur who founded the Disability Not Inability (DNI) Foundation with a focus on helping people with various forms of physical disabilities, especially children, in the areas of education, health, and entrepreneurship. She is passionate about social inclusion and development.
She holds Master of Arts (MA) in Ports and Shipping Administration in addition to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Logistics Management from the Regional Maritime University.
Esther believes “everybody has untapped potentials that may never be realised unless they receive the proper instruction, nurturing, and guidance.”
She started the DNI Foundation at age 25 and had since supported over 300 people with disabilities and their families through a number of activities. She has collaborated with organisations such as the Mephibosheth Training Centre at Ankamu near Apam, the Gbi Special School at Hohoe, the Physically Challenged Action Foundation at Offinso, the Gbeogo School for the Deaf at Tongo, the St. Theresah Vocational Training Centre for the Physically Challenged, Abor, and the Good Samaritan Home for Persons with Intellectual Disability at Adidome.
Though she may not be able to reach out to everyone, she has pledged to “influence positively and help transform the lives of those she has come in contact with.”
Through personal and crowd-funding projects, DNI Foundation has been supporting the physically challenged to return to school, acquire a trade, or receive medical treatment.
Ms Faith Aku Senyo
Senyo
Faith is a professional teacher. She holds a Diploma in Basic Education, Bachelor of Education in Home Economics and a Masters in Leadership and Administration.
Her drive to help others was stoked up when she saw the countless hardships that her students and their parents had to endure in order to pursue a better life. Mrs. Senyo has embraced the call to serve with open arms, touched many lives in a positive way, and won the hearts of many more people, including corporate organisations.
She is the proud founder of ‘The Rebranded Lady’, a legally recognised non-governmental organisation dedicated to the overall well-being of women, children, and economically disadvantaged members of society.
The organisation is certain that women empowerment and motivation leads to better homes and a thriving nation, and has, therefore, initiated a number of projects targeted at women and the underprivileged.
Some of the projects include the “Mother of Many Missions,” programme which provides 30 disadvantaged children with food, clothing, and school supplies. The organisation again offers period kits to girls through its “PinkPlate Charity Bundle” initiative.
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
