The U.S. Embassy has selected 32 young leaders from Ghana for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF). This year’s group is notably diverse, with strong representation from Northern Ghana.
The Fellows are involved in various fields including health, climate change, combating gender-based violence and child labour, supporting agriculture and STEM, and strengthening the business sector.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship, part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), aims to empower young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities, and community engagement.
YALI, the U.S. government’s initiative to invest in Africa’s future leaders, helps young Africans drive economic growth, enhance democratic governance, and promote peace and security across the continent.
The Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State, is managed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and implemented by IREX. The 2024 program marks its tenth anniversary.
Highlighting the U.S. commitment to African youth, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia E. Palmer noted the significant demographic trends in Sub-Saharan Africa, where half the population will soon be under 25, and by 2050, one in four people globally will be African. She emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchanges in the U.S.-Ghana partnership, which includes government, civil society, NGOs, the private sector, and citizens.
The 32 Ghanaian Fellows were chosen from over 3,000 applicants and will join 700 other Fellows at 28 U.S. educational institutions. Selected from over 50,000 applications across Africa, these Fellows are expected to promote innovation and positively impact their communities and Ghana after their six-week Fellowship.
Upon their return, the 2024 Ghanaian Fellows will join a 3,500-member U.S. exchange alumni network in Ghana, working with U.S. and Ghanaian leaders on community-based solutions to public policy challenges in areas like health, education, human rights, and women’s empowerment.
2024 Ghana Mandela Washington Fellows:
| Name | City-Region |
|---|---|
| Stephen Abane | Bolgatanga – Upper East |
| Maxwell Awaafo | Bolgatanga – Upper East |
| Abdul Majeed Alhassan | Kulungugu – Upper East |
| Augustine Yeboah | Wa – Upper West |
| Mohammed Hafiz Yahaya | Wa – Upper West |
| Dominic Akaateba | Wa – Upper West |
| Hamza Abdullah | Tamale – Northern |
| Fatima Issaka | Tamale – Northern |
| Blessila Kandoh | Tamale – Northern |
| Fatimata Yakubu | Tamale – Northern |
| Banasco Seidu | Sawla – Savannah |
| Adams Ewura Karim | Salaga – Savannah |
| Reagan Masud | Larabanga – Savannah |
| Huda Ibrahim | Techiman – Bono East |
| John Baptist Kabo-Bah | Sunyani – Bono |
| Aja Anatu Mohammed | Wenchi – Bono |
| Joseph Obeng-Asante | Chiraa – Bono |
| Philip Baba | Kumasi – Ashanti |
| Prince Agbata | Accra – Greater Accra |
| Isaac Brenya | Accra – Greater Accra |
| Brian Dzansi | Accra – Greater Accra |
| Richard Siaw | Accra – Greater Accra |
| Felix Appiah | Kpone – Greater Accra |
| Victor Loglo | Hohoe – Volta |
| Sophia Mensah Boduwah | Akosombo – Eastern |
| Luther Quarshie | Nankese – Eastern |
| Gifty Gyimah | Cape Coast – Central |
| Samuel Quansah | Cape Coast – Central |
| Daniel Amoah | Komenda – Central |
| Joycelyn Darkwah | Agona Swedru – Central |
| Francisca Hagan | Takoradi – Western |
| Lois Aubyn | Takoradi – Western |
