A total of 41 young leaders from Ghana are in the United States of America to meet President Barack Obama.
Selected from nearly 2,000 applicants throughout the country, they will spend six weeks in the USA.
The 41 young leaders from Ghana are beneficiaries of The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship programme of President Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which was launched in 2010.
A statement issued by Sara Veldhuizen Stealy, Press Attaché, US Embassy Accra, said the high-achieving cohort of Mandela Washington Fellows includes entrepreneurs, public servants and civil society members.
The Fellows represent all 10 regions of Ghana.
Fellows
They include Marigold Adu, Opoku Afriyie-Asante, Ahmed Amuquandoh, Maame Ankoh, Kwasi Anomah-Kordieh, Bathemel Appiah, Jeffrey Arhin, Benedict Arkhurst, Adjo Asare, Lamise Atinga, Nicholine Azirh, Yaganoma Baatuolkuu, Laud Anthony Basing, Nana Boakye-Yiadom and Hilda Boye.
Others are Emmanuel Kofi Danso, Frederick Danso, Doris Darkwah, Susana Dartey, Portia Dery, Nana Adjoa Entsuah, Solomon Faakye, Josephine Godwyll, Nana Akosua Hanson, Isaac Korang, Henry Kyeremeh, Diana Mensah, Mutaru Mumuni, Jamal Musah and Abdul Hameed Mustapha.
The rest are Marco Nyarko, Mary Nyarko, Bernard Oduro Takyi, Stephen Ofori, Frank Osei, Akosua Osei-Appaw, Lincoln Peedah, Ramatu Safiano Baba, Florence Toffa, Elorm Rita Tsali and Mary Watson.
According to the statement, a total of 1,000 Mandela Washington Fellows from sub-Saharan African countries will spend the next six weeks in the United States.
It noted that 40 different American universities will host groups of 25 Fellows for intensive academic coursework and leadership training.
It explained that three of Ghana’s Fellows will join a newly created energy-focused institute at the University of California, Davis.
The institute will provide Fellows with core leadership skills, legal and policy reform solutions, and best practices for addressing the energy challenges facing African nations.
The statement noted that on August 1-3, all 1,000 Fellows will assemble in Washington, D.C., for a Presidential Summit convened by President Obama.
Upon their return to Ghana in August 2016, the Fellows will continue to build the skills they have developed during their time in the United States through support from the U.S. Embassy, the YALI Regional Leadership Centre West Africa, the YALI Network, and customised programming from the U.S. Agency for International Development and affiliated partners.
The Young African Leaders Initiative is a key part of President Obama’s commitment to invest in the future of Africa.
His administration created this initiative out of the recognition that young Africans are playing a critical and increasing role in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth and enhancing peace and security in Africa.
<<Print>>