Foundation relaunches to expand educational opportunities for youth
The Reverend Emile Doe Dogbe-Gakpetor Memorial Foundation has been relaunched with a renewed commitment to expanding access to quality education and empowering young people to realise their full potential.
The relaunch forms part of efforts to scale up scholarship schemes, mentorship programmes and community-based initiatives aimed at equipping the youth with skills for national development.
Held in Accra last Friday, the event was on the theme: “Education and youth development: Building on a legacy, investing in the future.”
Established in 2013 in honour of Rev. Emile Doe Dogbe-Gakpetor, the foundation continues his legacy of promoting education and youth development. It builds on his earlier initiative, the Mount Zion Basic School at Nima, and has now been revived after a period of dormancy to broaden its impact.
Addressing the gathering, the Headmistress of Aggrey Memorial A.M.E. Zion Senior High School, Dr Dorothy Adentwi Hayford, described the foundation as a critical investment in the future of the youth.
She said every scholarship awarded, programme launched and student supported reinforced the belief that one’s background should not determine one’s future.
Dr Adentwi Hayford noted that the foundation was built on a legacy of vision, sacrifice and a firm belief in the transformative power of education.
“Education is a tool that shapes minds, builds character and opens up opportunities,” she said.
She stressed that the rapidly evolving global environment demanded an education system that went beyond textbooks and classrooms to equip young people with critical thinking skills, creativity, resilience and confidence.
According to her, youth development must be placed at the centre of education to prepare young people not only to pass examinations, but to lead, innovate and solve real-world problems.
Dr Adentwi Hayford commended ongoing reforms in the education sector, noting that the new curriculum sought to address gaps in nurturing talent and promoting practical learning.
She urged stakeholders to invest in the holistic development of children including their intellect, character, aspirations and well-being, adding that the foundation had a responsibility to provide access to quality education, mentorship and opportunities.
The Special Guest of Honour for the occasion, former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, officially relaunched the foundation and called on the public to support the initiative.
He said Ghana’s development depended largely on its human capital rather than its natural resources such as gold, cocoa and diamonds.
Dr Bawumia stressed that it was imperative to invest in people — particularly the youth to enable them to realise their full potential.
According to him, this could only be achieved through education, especially by supporting vulnerable groups in society.
He noted that this was precisely what the foundation stood for.
The event was chaired by the Rt Rev Dr Hilliard K. Dela Dogbe, Presiding Bishop of the A.M. E. Zion Church Western West Africa Episcopal District.
BY NORMAN COOPER
