The
President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo has presented the 2023 HoSA/DofE Gold
Award Medals and Certificates to Two Hundred and Eighty-One (281) young people
who have demonstrated excellence in leadership skills and service to community
through the Head of State Award Scheme / Duke of Edinburgh’s International
Award Programme at a colourful ceremony at the Jubilee house in Accra under the
theme “Nurturing leaders for a Thriving Future’’. Out of the 281 young
Gold Awardees, 167 Awardees are young girls representing 59.4% of the Awardees
while 114 are young men representing 40.6% of the Awardees.
H.
E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, who is the Chief Patron of the Award Scheme,
congratulated all award recipients for committing themselves to the
self-development programme and go through the various levels to achieved the
Gold Standard of the Award Scheme, 28% increase from last year winners. In his
remarks, the President indicated that “in a very fast paced world, faced with
myriad of challenges, we need visionary and bold leaders, who are relentless
and will go to any length for the well-being of society”. He added that “as
organizations face increasingly complex challenges, there is a pressing need
for individuals who possess the skills, knowledge, and vision to navigate
through uncertainty and drive positive change.”
He
further indicated the Award Scheme equips young people with the needed
competencies to become the leaders of tomorrow, valuing inclusivity and empathy
over authority and discipline. It builds in them, the skills for life and work,
challenging young people to explore their potentials. The President reiterated
that programmes like the Head of State Award Scheme, through its designed
framework of skills, volunteerism, sports and team adventurous journeys
develops those wider soft and hard skills of young people, giving them
opportunities outside the classroom to develop the confidence, resilient and
positive attitudes needed to succeed in life and work.
The
Board Chairman, Mr. Harry B. Sintim-Aboagye noted the innovation of young
people and indicated the need to help protect the intellectual ideas,
innovations and creativity of the youth. He hinted that the Award Scheme will
soon launch the National Youth Innovators Award to celebrate and motivate Ghanaian
youth and enterprising innovators.
Mr.
Peter Akai Anum, the Executive Director of the Award Scheme indicated that over
the last year, the Award Scheme equipped 13,241 young people via the Schemes
structured programme, contributing GH₵18.7million of social value and impact
through the principles of welfare economics and economic valuation techniques,
aligned with the principles of Social Return on Investment (SROI).
He
further highlighted a number of special initiatives delivered to enhance the
employability of our youth through partnerships. Key to these includes:
o
The Digital Award Project in partnership with the Duke
of Edinburgh’s International Foundation has equipped 1,921 Ghanaian youth with
Digital and IT skills.
o
The WISE Youth Empowerment & Scholarship Programme
in partnership with Steel Family Foundation has enhanced the life opportunity
of 30 stranded superstars, out of which 13 has gained scholarships for further
studies.
o
The Breaking the Cycle of Crime Project in partnership
with the Ghana Prison Service and the Australia High Commission, equipping 160
young offenders with knowledge and skills as part of their reformation and
reintegration.
Equipping 250 participants from the Epicentre Special
School, Autism Awareness Care Centre and Demonstration School for the Deaf and
Blind under the Life and Legacy programme.
He
reiterated the Scheme’s aims to extend its reach to a minimum of 50,000 young
people annually all 16 Regions from its current annual reach of 13,000 young
people and will need the support, partnership and collaboration of individuals
and corporate organizations to help extend the reach of the Award Scheme to all
young people.
HoSA Special Honours
The
event also celebrated and honoured individuals who have been exceptional in
their chosen careers and businesses as well as corporate organisations who have
been consistent in social impact were presented with the HoSA Special Honours
by the President. Below is the list of Awardees for the HoSA Special Honours;
National Best
Coordinator Award 2023
o
Mrs. Theodosia
Oppong, Aburi Girls
National Best
Centre Award 2023
o
Beposo Senior High
School, Lakeside
Volunteers of
the Year 2023
o
Ms. Mercy
Odoro
o
Mrs. Rachel Maame Yaa
Karle Annoh
CSR
Award 2023
o
Fuel Trade Ltd
o
B5 Plus Group
o
Energy Commission
Community
Impact Award 2023
o
National Petroleum
Authority
o
KGL Foundation
Trustees
Award
1. Dr.
Abena N. Asomaning
2.
Dr.
Daniel McKorley
3. Mariam
Alhassan Musah
4. Mr.
Nelson Amo
5. Ms.
Carol Annang
6.
Dr.
(Mrs). Angela Tena Mensah
7.
Mrs. Mabel
Nana Nyarkoa Porbley
Young Achievers Award 2023
1.
Mr. Charles
Antwi-Boahen
2.
Mr. Michael Kwesi Ofori
The Legacy & GADIA State Award
1.
ACP Patience Ashorkor
Quaye
2.
Professor Nana Aba
Appiah Amfo
3.
Ing. Patricia Obo-Nai
4.
Dr. Mrs Ellen Hagan
5.
Dr. Mrs. Kate
Quartey-Papafio
LIFE ICON
Award
1.
Prof. Emeritus Henry Nii-Adziri Wellington
2.
James Ebo Whyte
3.
Mr. Kwasi Twum
About The Head of State Award Scheme
The Head of State Award Scheme – Ghana provides a
non-formal education and learning framework for the development of young people
between the ages of 14 to 24 years regardless of their background and circumstances. It is the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Ghana.
The Award Scheme encourages
young people to step out of their comfort zones, explore their environment,
take on new challenges, stay physically and mentally fit and embrace the spirit
of adventure. It pushes them to take charge of their personal development and
life in general. It gives them the opportunity to view life not just from a
narrow perspective
but from different perspectives thereby broadening their view of life and their ability to
positively impact society. The
Scheme uses an Award Framework along with support from adult volunteers to
guide young people to discover and develop themselves.
It is about personal development
and individual challenge: it is a non-competitive, enjoyable, voluntary and
balanced programme, which requires sustained effort over time.
As
a non-formal educational framework that can complement formal education or
offer a substitute where formal opportunities are not available, the Scheme is
comprised of three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold – each progressively more
challenging. More than just about Adventurous Journeys or expeditions, it
requires young people to choose a form of Voluntary Service, a Skill, Physical
Recreation and at Gold level, a Residential Gold Project.
The
Award Scheme provides a leisure time activity and a rewarding agenda that fills
the gap left by formal tuition and equips young people for life, building their
confidence and engaging them with their communities to make a difference to
themselves and the world at large.
END….