HON. FELICIA EDEM ATTIPOE- MUNICIPAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE-TEMA WEST, GHANA THINK FOUNDATION, WODEMAYA, ROTARACT GHANA, AND OTHERS GRAB AWARDS AT THE 5TH EDITION OF THE MENTORSHIP AND VOLUNTEERISM EXCELLENCE (MVE) AWARDS.

The just ended Mentorship and Volunteerism Excellence (MVE) Awards ceremony took place on Saturday the 28th of September 2024, at the Ghana India Kofi Annan Center of Excellence in ICT. The event was held under the theme “Tech driven future, mentoring the next generation”. The awards ceremony recognized individuals and organizations that have demonstrated excellence in mentoring and volunteerism in Ghana and beyond.

The awards marked the final project activity in promoting volunteering and mentoring in the country, which commenced with the national mentoring day held on 18th July, which also commemorates the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela, and joined the GhanaThink foundation to mark the national Volunteers Day, celebrating the legacy of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Dr. C.J. Buckman, Chairman of Captain Foundation, delivered a powerful video address, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action in mentorship and volunteerism. ‘Today’s complexities demand a shared responsibility to empower the next generation,’ Dr. Buckman stressed. ‘As we navigate the uncharted waters of disruptive technologies, mentorship is crucial for cultivating visionary leaders.”

He concluded with a call to action, encapsulated in his inspiring motto:

‘Each One, Reach One, Mentor One.’

The guest of honour at the event was Her Excellency Fidelia Graand – Galon Ambassador Extraordinaire & Plenipotentiary Suriname Embassy to Ghana, who delivered an inspiring speech on the importance of believing in Ghana and fostering mentoring partnerships.

Her Excellency emphasized the need for the private sector, government, and civil society to collaborate in providing mentorship opportunities for young people. She also underscored the need for partnerships to foster innovation, creativity, and the development of home-grown talent.

The event organizer and CEO of the Captain Foundation, Mr. Atsu George Geraldo de Lima, revealed that the MVE Awards aims to recognize and celebrate outstanding individuals and organizations in mentorship and volunteerism, promoting a culture of excellence and social impact.

In view of the awards attaining a milestone of 5 years, Mr. Geraldo de Lima explained that five years of honoring outstanding mentorship and volunteerism in Ghana sets a high standard, encouraging others to strive for excellence. He further indicated that five years of recognizing excellence in mentorship and volunteerism solidifies the awards’ position as a reputable and consistent platform.

“We chose the theme of the event based on the disruptive nature of technology across industries, serving as a platform for preparing young people for emerging challenges and opportunities.”

“The awards will continue to highlight inspiring stories of mentorship and volunteerism, motivating others to make a positive impact in their communities and also strive to build stronger partnerships, driving greater impact and sustainability in mentorship and volunteerism initiatives,’ he revealed.  

The event was attended by various stakeholders, including volunteers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and government officials. It also featured a dynamic panel discussion with industry leaders and experts who shared their insights on the impact of Mentorship and its relevance in driving societal change.

List of Awards and Awardees are as follows:

  1. VOLUNTEER GROUP OF THE YEAR – GhanaThink Foundation
  2. VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR – Rotaract Ghana
  3. STUDENT MENTORSHIP AWARD – Cecilia Mamle Laweh- Educationist
  4. EXCELLENCE IN PRO BONO CONSULTANCY – UPSA Legal clinic
  5. PAY IT FORWARD HUBS – iSpace Foundation
  6. EXCELLENCE IN MENTORING – Maudlyn Akosua Awuku- Anijie Global Foundation/GEWE Network UK, UN Women UK.
  7. NATIONAL SERVICE AWARD – Ato Ulzen Appiah- Director, Ghana Think Foundation
  8. YOUTH VOLUNTEER PROGRAM – Joshua Opoku Agyemang – (IOT Africa & Ghana STEM Network)
  9. SERVICE THROUGH STEM – Shadrach Inusah- Founder Spryix/GDG Accra Lead
  10. VOLUNTEERING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE – Mackintorch Makafui Awuku-CEO Mckingtorch Africa
  11. PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT – Rosetta Ntriwaah Boakye- Tell it to Rosett
  12. SUSTAINABILITY AWARD – Darlington Akogo- CEO MINO Health AI Labs
  13. EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE – Bravo Shoes Community Support Organization
  14. RISING STAR – Blaise Ackom – Cervical Cancer Advocate, Medical Media Personality
  15. SOCIAL INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR (M) – Wode Maya- Influencer
  16. SOCIAL INFLUENCER OF THE YEAR (F) – Blessing Bliss Coab Frimpong-Teacher Blessing
  17.       CORPORATE MENTOR OF THE YEAR – Ekow Mensah-Managing Consultant: Ekow Mensah Consulting
  18. MENTORSHIP FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN – Linda Ewoenam Donkor-CEO Auntie Linda Foundation
  19. EXCELLENCE IN CHILDREN’S RIGHT AND PROTECTION – Paul Semeh- Founder: Street Children Empowerment Foundation (SCEF)
  20. IMPACTFUL PHILANTHROPY – Dwumfour Abdullai Aziz-Lecturer, University of Ghana
  21. YOUTH VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR – Maxwell Odonkor-Founder/Executive Director World Inspiring Network
  22. EXCEPTIONAL VOLUNTEER MENTORS AWARD – Dorcas Yingura Zoogah- Gender and Climate Advocate
  23. EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING – Nutsuakor Foster Asempa- Facilitator: GES, Shai Osudoku District
  24. STUDENT VOLUNTEER – Victoria Mends- Student
  25. SDGS4 MENTOR – E T Jamani Jr- Consult Lead, etConsult
  26. SDGS 5 MENTOR – Regina Honu- CEO SORONKO ACADEMY
  27. SDGS 6 MENTOR – Abdul Rashid Wumpini Alhassan-Ummy Relief Foundation, EndplasticSoup
  28. SDGS 8 MENTOR – Youth Advocate Ghana
  29. SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR – KOBINA ADOMADZI LONGDON- Developer and Chief Executive TECHFARM Hub
  30. EXCELLENCE IN PERSONAL FINANCE AND WEALTH MGT.- Peter kwadwo Asare Nyarko- Executive Director: CFLEA
  31. MENTORSHIP IN MENTAL AND WELL-BEING – Mrs. Charlotte Esi Myers- Chief Clinical Psychologist- Ghana Health Service
  32. INSPIRING CHANGE AWARDS – Isaac Newton Acquah- co founder: The Innovation Park
  33. EXCELLENCE IN WOMEN MPOWERMENT – Edna Quartey- Founder: Total Woman Network
  34. CORPORATE LEADERSHIP AWARDS – Emmanuel Gamor- Senior Manager: Digital Channels, MTN
  35. ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR (M) – Dr. Yaw Twum- CEO: Global Dental Technical Services
  36. ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR (F) – Felicia Edem Attipoe– Municipal Chief Executive-Tema West
  37. VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR – Marcella Mawusi Missodey- Marketing Communication/Entrepreneur/Rotaractor.
  38. MENTOR OF THE YEAR (M) – Ralph Menz- Multimedia Technologist & Tech Startup Founder
  39. EXCELLENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP MENTORSHIP- Ispace Foundation
  40.        MENTOR OF THE YEAR (F) – Felicia Edem Attipoe- Municipal Chief Executive-Tema West

This event was powered by the Captain Foundation. Partners to the event were rising event and business solutions company – ICS Africa Limited, Springfield Events, and Charles Buckman Foundation, Mentoring Africa 101.

Sponsors included Ispace Foundation, Oracle Academy, The Misfit Consulting, and Tech Farm Hub.

Source: The Captain Foundation