The second edition of the JoyNews Impact Makers Awards commenced on Saturday, June 28, at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
Miss Eunice Asiedua Agyepong
Gloria Lardi Adakurugu
Nicholas Cofie
The event is part of the Multimedia Group Ltd JoyNews brand’s contribution to societal betterment.
It is a social project aimed at recognising and celebrating individuals whose selfless contributions have brought change to socially deprived communities.
The event saw 10 individuals honoured with plaques, monetary awards, and citations for their contributions to society.
The winners were Miss Eunice Asiedua Agyepong, Dr. Kwame Sarkwah Aidoo, Gloria Lardi Adakurugu, Rev. Sr. Jucinta Akua Kwakyewaa Osei, Andrew Agyenim Boateng, Rhoda Kadoa Wedam, Samuel Nana-Bekai Djirackor, Nicholas Cofie, Joel Duah Afi, and Joseph Maudjorm.
The first awardee of the night was Rhoda Kadoa Wedam who received the award for her impact through Women and Girls Empowerment at Tamale in the Northern region.
She thanked JoyNews for honouring and celebrating her.
"I also want to thank my beneficiaries for giving me the opportunity to make an impact in their lives because it's their success stories that have brought me far."
Madam Wedam emphasised that mental hygiene is a global issue significantly impacting many girls in the country, and it requires much greater attention.
The next awardee was Rev. Sr. Jucinta Akua Kwakyewaa Osei who was honoured for her impact through Girl Child Education and Community Welfare at Akim Aperade in the Eastern region.
Rev. Sr. Osei said she has been able to embark on several educational and humanitarian projects because of the support of her benefactors, and family, to which she dedicated the award to them.
"To the Multimedia Group, I cannot thank you enough. I'm highly indebted to you and I pray that God will continue to expand your ministry."
Miss Eunice Asiedua Agyepong was honoured for her impact through Education and Volunteerism at Nioka in the Eastern region.
She expressed gratitude to her parents for their help towards her upbringing and thanked her family and teachers at Noka M/A Basic School.
"I'm grateful to my family and the teachers at Noka M/A Basic School, my headteacher, the director, and everyone who supported making the non-existent school a functional school, I'm grateful," she said.
The next awardee of the night was Gloria Lardi Adakurugu, who was honoured for her impact through Education at Anyinam in the Eastern region.
Speaking on her award, she thanked her donors, family and friends for supporting her foundation up till now.
"I dedicate this award to my parents, ... I didn't go to school but they didn't lose hope in me. They still pushed me up this far. Mr and Mrs Adakurugu, I'm so grateful to you."
Nicholas Cofie received the next award of the night for his impact on Education and Social Welfare at Accra in the Greater Accra region.
He expressed gratitude to JoyNews for this recognition and thanked the team at Your Help, My Help Foundation for their tireless effort and dedication to empowering lives through education and social welfare.
"Thank you very much for your unwavering commitment. To the people we have had the privilege to serve, your resilience and determination inspire us every day, we are proud to be part of your journey," he added.
The next awardee of the night was Joseph Maudjorm who was honoured for his impact through Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) at Upper Manya Krobo in the Eastern region.
Mr. Maudjorm stated that when he initially began offering these services in communities, it felt like he was just playing. However, he expressed happiness that these services have made a meaningful impact.
"I thank my Hon. Member of Parliament Bismark Nyarko who has been supporting me in various ways. I also thank my family, my team back at home and the people at Asesewa."
Andrew Agyenim Boateng received the next award of the night for his impact through Education and ICT at Sampa in the Bono region.
He expressed gratitude to JoyNews and the Multimedia Group for creating a platform that will maximise the exposure of impact makers to get more donors to support their work.
"I'm so grateful, this is not mine, this is for the entire Bono region. I'm grateful to all our donors," he added.
Dr. Kwame Sarkwah Aidoo was honoured for his impact through Rural Livelihood Empowerment at Donkokrom in the Eastern region.
He said that the award serves as a great exposure for him and his fellow awardees to tell their stories, and thanked JoyNews and the Multimedia Group for the honour.
"I dedicate this award to the pioneer beekeeper in Afram Plains whom I met and went there to impact the disadvantaged people in the most deprived community in our country."
Dr Aidoo also thanked his family for supporting him while he was way making an impact in the communities.
Samuel Nana-Bekai Djirackor received the next award of the night for his impact through Health and Social Welfare at Bawku West, Garu, Binduri, and Tempani in the Upper East region.
Speaking after receiving his award, Mr. Djirackor emphasized that the youth are the future and that achieving a better tomorrow requires collaboration, sacrifice, passion, and action.
He thanked all those who made it possible and supported him to make an impact.
"It is possible to make an impact if we come together and partner and I believe with love, or nation and our society has a great future."
The last awardee of the night was Dr Joel Duah Afi who was honoured for his impact through Health at Asunafo South District in the Ahafo region.
He expressed gratitude to the JoyNews Impact Makers Awards team and the Multimedia Group for recognising and honouring him.
"I'm so excited for this opportunity and I dedicate this award to the motivated team that I work with. I alone can not do it but with their support.
"And to every young person everywhere in Ghana and the world doing amazing to change their community. Let's keep striving and together, we will define the next generation and future we want," he said.
Among them, Miss Eunice Asiedua Agyepong emerged as the overall winner at the second edition of the JoyNews Impact Makers Awards.
Miss Agyepong received a plaque and a cash price of GH₵10,000.00 for emerging as the overall winner.
Speaking after receiving her award, Eunice Asiedua Agyepong expressed her gratitude to the Almighty God for giving her the strength to persevere despite the mockery she faced.
"It wasn't easy," she said. "The things people said were hard to bear, but I never gave up. I had help from a special person who played a major role in my life."
She thanked the local communities, elders, the Assembly Member, and Rev. Ntiamoah, the man who generously offered his church as the initial location for the school.
Credit: Prince Adu-Owusu