Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network
Ghana
The Alumni Network is the culmination of our vision to mobilize the alumni from our programs — which include the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Ashoka, the Youth Think Tank (YTT), the Scholars Program, the Anzisha Prize, and Youth Forward — to be a force for change.
To learn more about the Alumni Network, click here to complete the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Interest form.
To learn more about the Ghana Alumni Network email: mcfghanaalumninetwork@gmail.com.
Meet the Leadership Committee
Francis Elikem Akondor Francis Elikem Akondor
Francis Elikem Akondor is an Alum of the Pre-Mest Program. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Land Economy and a Master of Science degree in Procurement Management from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. With a profound ardour for entrepreneurship and a vision to contribute to the development of a prosperous Africa, Francis currently serves as the marketing and recruitment associate at MEST Africa. In this role, he undertakes the crucial task of identifying and engaging with talented individuals, startups, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate inMEST Africaâs training programs. Furthermore, he volunteers his time with various organizations, dedicating efforts to fostering the growth and advancement of SMEs across Africa.
Francis firmly upholds the belief that with determination and a focused mindset, anything is achievable. His unwavering conviction drives him to strive for excellence and make a positive impact in all his endeavors.
Emily Otoo-Quayson Emily Otoo-Quayson
Emily Otoo-Quayson is a skilled communications and digital marketing professional, as well as a creative content creator and designer. She is a proud Alum of the Scholars program at KNUST, the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), and a Resolution fellow. As a STEM researcher, Emily has worked on several impactful projects that utilize local resources. Notably, she engineered a zero-cooling chamber storage system to combat post-harvest losses for market women, which was recognized as the best research work at the African Research Academy for Women.
Additionally, she designed an organic sanitary pad that won the Presidential Pitch. Beyond her professional work, Emily is a passionate menstrual hygiene advocate and founder of the startup ERI, which provides menstrual hygiene education to thousands of girls every year. She also enjoys public speaking and has moderated and facilitated over 15 programs and conferences in the past year. Notably, she was honored to participate in a dialogue by ACET, hosting Professors from African universities, representatives from the World Bank, and inspiring youth activists. In her leisure time, Emily is a creative soul who loves engaging with people.
Ihlass Issah Ihlass Issah
Ihlass Issah is an Alumnus of CAMFED and serves as the National Vice Chairperson of the CAMFED Association Ghana. She trained as a nurse at the Tamale Nurses and Midwifery Training College (NMTC). She has served as the CAMFED Association Chairperson of the Tamale NMTC campus chapter in 2019. Inthis role, she supervised the planning, implementation, and delivery of all CAMFED Association activities. In 2020, she received Business Management training and grant for her event planning and decorations venture under Young Africa Works, the Business Start-Up Program.
She loves to spend time visiting schools and communities to educate them on financial literacy, the need to stay and complete school among many others. In the wake of COVID-19, Ihlass together with other members of her community-produced soap and face masks and donated to vulnerable groups in their communities to help fight the spread of the virus.
Nancy Addison-Danquah Nancy Addison-Danquah
Nancy Addison-Danquah is a Marketing and Sales Executive currently pursuing a masterâs degree in international Affairs and Diplomacy at the University of Ghana. She is a Youth Think Tank Alum. Nancy is passionate about Adolescent Reproductive Health and Rights and access to quality education and as such she volunteers with Vim Foundation, an NGO that strives to move young people from schooling under trees by building classrooms and sharing desks to various schools.
She served as the Womenâs Commissioner for the Elizabeth Frances Sey Hall in the University of Ghana between 2017-2018. Here, she organized seminars and aerobic sessions for the young women in the hall to create a safe space for the residents particularly the young women
Emmanuel Fiifi Musah Emmanuel Fiifi Musah
Emmanuel Fiifi Musah is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar Alum from the Kwame Nkrumah Universityof Science and Technology (KNUST), an Alum of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), and an MSc student at the University of Edinburgh. He is passionate about mentorship, career coaching, youth development, and community transformation.
He co-founded âThe Pioneersâ, a youth-led group that has the aim to provide academic mentorship, and career coaching and bring societal change to rural communities in and around the Oti Region. As a passionate individual for change and impact-making, he served as the President of the AlumniCommunity of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at KNUST, where he led initiatives, programs, and projects that were geared towards helping the Alumni transition into a meaningful after-school life.
Currently, Emmanuel works as a Sustainability Technical Officer at the Sustainability Department of Barry Callebaut Group-Ghana. His experience in agribusiness and sustainability has made him provide consultancy and business development services to 5+ Alumni-led agribusinesses towards developing their minimum-viable products. He is passionate about research, data analysis, monitoring, and evaluation and he is therefore keen to use his skills to advance the work of the Alumni Network.
Sadock Ofori Sadock Ofori
Sadock Ofori is a Mastercard Foundation Alum from the National Digital Skills Training program with a bachelorâs degree in Rehabilitation and Disability Studies from the University of Education, Winneba. He is a Researcher, with two publications to his name and contributed to the development of a trainingmanual on a World Bank project for the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Special EducationDivision (SpEd) and currently pursuing a post-graduate study in special education at the University ofEducation, Winneba.
Besides his academic adventure and experience, Sadock is a skilled Data Analyst and has trained about 40 females in the field of Data Science and Analytics. He serves as the Incubation Business Development Lead at Womenâs Haven Africa, where he has trained and provided business support for startups in the Ghana startup ecosystem. He has also contributed to the growth and development of female-led SMEs and startups in agribusiness on the SNV GrEEn Incubation program by the European Union.
Sadock firmly believes in skills development for youth for better livelihoods to minimize migration from rural areas and to reduce youth unemployment in Ghana. As a disability advocate, He continues to advocate for digital inclusion and the right of persons with disabilities
Jennifer De-Graft Ninson Jennifer De-Graft Ninson
Jennifer De-Graft Ninson is the Founder and Executive Director of Organization for Inclusion and Empowerment â OFIE, a youth-led organization that focuses on promoting the well-being of persons with disabilities through education, technology, and mentorship.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science Education from the University of Education,Winneba and is currently pursuing an MPHil in Political Science specializing in Public Administration and public Policy.
She is an Alumnus of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at CAMFED-Ghana and has benefited from the Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund and the Young Africa Works program to grow an agro-business she co-founded with her friends. She is also an alumnus of the Digital Opportunity Trust Youth Street Team and the Empowered to Educate Fellowship programs.
Jennifer has a keen interest in education, disability inclusion and empowerment, policy analysis, girlchild empowerment and youth and community development. She believes that everyone has a role toplay in transforming the world.
Ghana - Past Alumni
Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network
The Alumni Network is the culmination of our vision to mobilize the alumni from our programs â which include the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Ashoka, the Youth Think Tank (YTT), the Scholars Program, the Anzisha Prize, and Youth Forward â to be a force for change.
Meet the Leadership Committee
Benedicta Dawson-Amoah Benedicta Dawson-Amoah
Benedicta Dawson-Amoah is a Monitoring and Evaluation professional with an academic background in statistics and research methods. Currently, she serves as the lead MEL Coordinator on the She Leads Project at Plan International Ghana. Benedicta is a Youth Think Tank alum and is passionate about decent economic opportunities for young people and also has contributed to the academic research paper âMaking a Living: A Youth Employment Agendaâ by Murray Edwards College -University of Cambridge. Benedicta continues to advocate for an increased meaningful participation of young people in leadership and decision making. As such volunteers as a mentor at the Global Give Back Circle, where she empowers young women in schools to become transformative leaders.
Damaris Saku Damaris Saku
Damaris Saku is graduated from the University of Ghana with a bachelorâs degree in psychology and Archaeology. Damaris is a member of Young Menâs Christian Association (YMCA) Ghana and has served in various capacities of the organization up to representation on the YMCA West African Alliance.
She loves the creative arts and hospitality and is the co-founder of a fashion company, Exoafriq Fashion company Limited and an event company, Mitiche Concepts. She is also a Board Member for Virtuous Women Foundation, an organization empowering woman in the Northern and Ashanti regions of Ghana.
Damaris loves to help people and is keen on developing purpose, gifts and leveraging platforms for young people. This core interest has gravitated her towards leadership, rural and urban community development, gender inclusion and entrepreneurship.
Erica Ehiamah Erica Ehiamah
Erica Ehiamah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the Ghana Institute of Journalism with over three years working experience in Development Communications. She is a trained D.W. Akademie Fellow on Media Development, Online Journalism and Audience Research.
In 2018, Erica was the Head of Research for the Youth Newsroom sponsored by UNESCO in commemoration of World Press Freedom and has worked with other international organizations including UNHCR Ghana, The Hunger Project Ghana, and UNICEF as a U-Report Champion in 2019.
Erica worked with UNFPA Ghana as a Youth Leaders Fellow providing communication assistance and helped coordinate a number of projects such as the COVID-19 Youth Humanitarian Outreaches reaching over 5,000 beneficiaries in slums and the launch of Orange Radio, an online-based radio platform for UNFPA Ghana.
Erica is passionate about tackling issues of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and aspires to work in the humanitarian space.
Happy Bruce Happy Bruce
Happy Bruce is a Communications and Public Affairs Intern at the Mastercard Foundation in Ghana.
She holds a bachelorâs degree in medical laboratory science from the University of Cape Coast where she served as a Teaching Assistant post-graduation. She is passionate about youth development, entrepreneurship, and social projects.
As a pencil artist, she founded Afriart Central Hub, a venture that produces indigenous artworks and provide training services to aspiring artists. Happy is keen on helping young people embrace the idea of entrepreneurship and helps them create for themselves a sideline source of income in the arts industry.
While at CAMFED Ghana, Happy was the president of the National Scholars Council and a Facilitator during CAMFED Leadership and Enrichment Camps. She has also been volunteering with the Baobab Team as a Baobab Ambassador and currently serves on the Ghana Chapter of the Alumni Committee as Transitions Lead.
Ira Osei Akoto Ira Osei Akoto
Ira Osei Akoto holds a bachelorâs degree in community-based rehabilitation studies and is currently reading towards a masterâs degree in special education at the University of Education, Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana.
Ira is a goal-oriented youth leader, startup mentor, disability and SDGs advocate, design thinking practitioner and business developer providing free business development support to early-stage startups in Ghana for them to be investor ready through the StartupBAS Initiative.
He also works with Womenâs Haven Africa as the partnership and communications manager and serves asâŻtheâŻBusinessâŻDeveloper where he trains startups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and aspiringâŻentrepreneurs on entrepreneurship and how they can run successful business ventures. He believes that the future is for everyone!
Mohammed Abdul Hamid Mohammed Abdul Hamid
Mohammed Abdul Hamid is an alum of the Young African Leaders Initiative, a project manager and a business development coach. He is an Associate Project Management Facilitator at the Cambridge Center of Excellence. He was project manager and programs coordinator for the Vodafone Instant Schools and National Coding Program respectively.
He is the CEO officer of ZOBI Ghana, an Accra based business incubation hub focused on developing capacities and providing technical assistance to startup innovators and informal SMEs operating in Zongos, inner cities and other socioeconomically challenged communities across the country. He is an entrepreneur, the director of M-TECH Ghana and sole inventor of the Mobile Solar Powered UV Sterilizer (MOSPUS -X19).
He has operated in the youth development space for the past 10 years, mentoring and supporting youth-led startups, SMEs and social innovators across the West African subregion.
Prince Adufah Prince Adufah
Prince Adufah is an alum of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and an incoming graduate at Sciences Po Urban School.
Prince founded Aidenn-green Ventures, a start-up in creative arts aimed at supporting and managing young talent by identifying, training, and mentoring young people and exposing them to career opportunities in the arts and entertainment sector.
He is also a development practitioner with entry level experience working with NGOs such as CARE International and Optimal Change Partnership in community development, financial inclusion, child protection and womenâs empowerment.
He is a freelance researcher who has executed research contracts with Digital Opportunity Trust and 60 Decibels. His interests are in entrepreneurship and social media marketing.