Humanity, from Adam's ejection from the Garden of Eden, has been confronted with afflictions such as poverty, diseases, wars, hunger and natural disasters.

 Oftentimes these threats put affected people into disadvantage.

Unfortunately, the situation for the current generation is compounded by terrorism, climate change, terminal diseases and gross economic mismanagement, which requires more humanitarian interventions to restore hope for the hopeless.

In Ghana many people have fallen victim of these threats while those who are willing to provide relief and support are often held back by lack of support and appreciation.

And here is where JoyNews stepped in, believing that the sacrifices and thoughtfulness of individuals to love, show compassion and to mobilise resources and put same at the disposal of the disadvantaged is worth celebrating.

That intervention is what gave birth to the JoyNews Impact Makers Awards programme, which aims to reward and celebrate the heroes to touch mores lives and also help to provide a future for the socially disadvantaged.

The maiden edition which was held at the Labadi Beach Hotel honoured 11 outstanding everyday heroes.

Isaac Adjaottor overall winner

Improving lives through farming is his heartbeat.
He founded The Farm for Livelihood Association in Ada-Foah. The organization
which operates in Ada East and West generates income from farms and uses it to
support people with disabilities and provide scholarships for less privileged students in
the community.
It also distributes solar lanterns to school children and homes in the island communities
to promote sustainable energy and run malaria campaigns in schools to prevent malariarelated deaths.
Two new businesses have been created through the success of the organization’s
activities. The first is a bakery shop run by young girls and women who bake bread and
sell it in villages.
The second is Nikeni gift shop in Ada Foah, which sells locally made products to
tourists and locals. The association also supports youth with craft talents who need
assistance in making locally made goods

JEFFERSON KWASI AGBOTRO

He is passionate and dedicated to ensuring good health. Through his NGO FOHA and
with the help of over 400 local and international volunteers, more than 15, 000 people
in the BONO and Ahafo regions have been provided free health screening.
Beneficiaries of his benevolence have been saved from complications through,
education, early detection and referrals to major hospitals.
His outfit has facilitated mentoring for over 500 nurses and midwives and trained 5000
professionals in leadership and management, human resource development, and
healthcare strengthening.
At the height of the COVID pandemic FOHA implemented a COVID-19 hesitancy
project for one year and is currently running a Child Empowerment and Food Support
Project.
In partnership with Human Venture, a UK based organization, the project aims to
empower 2000 basic school students and 100 senior high school students in teenage
pregnancy advocacy, sexual and gender-based advocacy, skill development training,
menstrual hygiene education, career guidance and many more.

RICHARD KWEI MENSAH OKOE

Supporting small holder farmers is his heartbeat. He’s founded several organizations as
a result. The story of his impact begins in 2000 2000 when he formed the Nkoranza
and Techiman Beekeepers Association to train, support and support farmers in
integrating beekeeping into their farming practices to increase crop productivity. After
a decade, the success of this initiative and its spread beyond Nkoranza culminated in
the registration of The National Beekeepers Association in 2011.
The incorporation of bee-keeping into crop farming has not only led to fruitful yields.
The sale of honey and other bee products provide an extra source of income for the
farmers.
Being a child of peasant farmers who never made financial gains from farming, the
success stories of small holder farmers harvesting and earning more brings him so much
joy.
He is the President of the National Beekeepers Association, CEO of Community
Development Challenge, and Board Chair of Wyn-Bg.
Please welcome ………a valuable asset to Ghana's agricultural sector and a source of
inspiration to others working to improve the lives of smallholder farmers,

ELLEN WHITE OPOKU

She is a strong advocate for girl and boy child education, ending sex and gender-based
violence and achieving the SDG’s.
Through personal financing she’s been able to mentor girls and support them in
accessing education, especially at the High School level.
She’s the Municipal Girls' Education Officer and School Improvement Support Officer
in charge of the Kenten Circuit of the Techiman Municipal in the Bono East Region
for the Ghana Education Service.
Ellen White Opoku is dedicated to impacting and uplifting the lives of people to a welldeserving status. She invests her time, skills, and resources and goes out of her way to
make life better for young people.

ELIASU YUSSIF BABA

For the past ten years he’s championed the cause of people living with mental health
conditions in the Wa Municipality.
From catering for one person since its establishment in 2006, the BAHASS foundation
currently has over 80 patients in its care. The foundation has secured NHIS cards to
cover all patients, keeping them on regular medication and reducing their level of
aggressiveness and attacks on people in public.
BAHASS is also committed to preventing mental issues caused by substance abuse
through public education. The lives of more than five babies born to mentally
challenged parents have been saved.
Since the foundation's inception, the number of people living with mental health
conditions on the streets of the WA Municipality has significantly reduced.
Public education has led to a decline in stigmatization, torture, and ill-treatment of
people with mental health conditions in the community.
Through outreach programs and regular community visits, the foundation ensures
essential care is provided for those in need. This ensures that those who’ve left their
care are still catered for.

JOY OKRAH

Her passion in food and agriculture compelled her relocation to the Upper West
Region of Ghana to venture into full-time farming and aggregation.
One of the most notable impacts of her work is the introduction of a high-efficiency
multi-purpose and multi-crop thresher. It has led to the provision of direct employment
and household income to over 2,700 and 10,800 people, respectively.
It’s also attracted more farmers into soybean cultivation and has helped to ensure highquality produce for sale at a premium price.
Her company, AWO Fields operates in the Northern and Savanna Zones of Ghana
and is focused on soybean, rice, maize, sorghum, and groundnut production. She
provides mentoring, free training and consultations to farmers on good agronomic
practices and financial support to youth in education and other vocations
A woman dedicated to researching effective and
efficient way to modernize agriculture and reduce post-harvest losses for farmers.

FATHER MOSES AWINONGYA

His contribution to education is outstanding. Despite the poverty in his hometown, he
worked hard to ensure that future generations do not have to endure the same
challenges he faced while growing up.
He joined the German Province of the Divine Word Missionaries for his theological
studies and missionary assignment.
His strong desire to create a better experience for young people led to the creation of
the Regentropfen Education Foundation and subsequent establishment of the
Regentropfen College of Applied Sciences
Through external donor support he started supporting five youth in Ghana in 2009.
This grew to over 300 in 2022.
The Regentropfen College of Applied Sciences, which he is president of, provides
scholarships to over 56 students.
He also established the Regentropfen Model schools comprising of the Regentropfen
Senior High School, the Rauschmayer Institute for Technical Training, and the
Regentropfen Basic School to ensure that beneficiaries of the Foundation receive the
highest quality education from elementary to tertiary levels. 95% of the students in the
Senior High school and the Technical Institute are on scholarships.
Fr. Moses has worked on various projects such as drilling and installing a mechanized
borehole for Namoo Primary School, constructing a six-unit classroom block for
Azeem Namoa Senior High School, distributing over 1000 water bottles to students in
selected Upper East Region schools, co-constructing and establishing Bongo
Community Radio Station, and renovating Leebiisi-Moshidabooro Primary School in
Bongo-Beo.

REV. JOHN AKARIBO

His contribution to education and health in his village Nyariga Doone in the Bolgatanga
Municipality and surrounding communities has been enormous.
Through what he calls the vision and missions project, the first and only girls’ school
in Nyariga Doone was established.
Also, through his initiative, the Nyariga community clinic which has now been upgraded
to a health center was constructed. This initiative has provided essential healthcare
services to the community, saving lives and improving the health of the people in the
area.
His love for God and people and his dedication to improving the lives of others is an
inspiration.
Many lives have been touched by the senior pastor at the Christian Life Center Ghana
Nyariga branch in Bolga and retired district director of NCCE. His legacy is a
transgenerational one.

YAYRA PORTIA KLU

As an inspiring humanitarian and activist with Ghanaian roots, she spearheaded a
dedicated movement to unleash the potential of youth for national development.
She’s the visionary founder and leader of Uriel Impact Generation, a dynamic volunteer
organization.
Her primary focus lies in combating youth unemployment and providing guidance to
those who seek their true calling in life.
With an unwavering commitment to youth development, she exudes a profound
passion for empowering women and nurturing the next generation.
Her active contribution in organizing the EVE Women in Governance has championed
the cause of women's empowerment.
Guided by her down-to-earth nature and selfless desire to serve others, she continues
to inspire positive change in her community and beyond.

RICHARD KWEI MENSAH OKOE

Supporting small holder farmers is his heartbeat. He’s founded several organizations as
a result. The story of his impact begins in 2000 2000 when he formed the Nkoranza
and Techiman Beekeepers Association to train, support and support farmers in
integrating beekeeping into their farming practices to increase crop productivity. After
a decade, the success of this initiative and its spread beyond Nkoranza culminated in
the registration of The National Beekeepers Association in 2011.
The incorporation of bee-keeping into crop farming has not only led to fruitful yields.
The sale of honey and other bee products provide an extra source of income for the
farmers.
Being a child of peasant farmers who never made financial gains from farming, the
success stories of small holder farmers harvesting and earning more brings him so much
joy.
He is the President of the National Beekeepers Association, CEO of Community
Development Challenge, and Board Chair of Wyn-Bg.
He is a valuable asset to Ghana's agricultural sector and a source of
inspiration to others working to improve the lives of smallholder farmers.

 AMADU ZULKARNAIN MOHAMMED

Amadu Zulkarnain Mohammed is a dedicated Director of Achievers Ghana, an organization focused on providing quality education to girls in deprived communities. He is passionate about improving educational opportunities and empowering young girls through education. Amadu oversees the organization's strategic direction and daily operations, working tirelessly to address barriers hindering girls' access to education. Achievers Ghana implements initiatives like scholarships, mentorship programs, and community outreach to enable girls to pursue education and develop essential life skills. Amadu's work goes beyond transforming individual lives; it has a positive ripple effect on families and communities. By investing in girls' education, he breaks the cycle of poverty and empowers girls to become agents of change. Amadu's unwavering dedication, compassionate leadership, and commitment to providing quality education to girls in deprived communities make him an inspiring figure and a catalyst for social change. His work with Achievers Ghana continues to have a lasting impact, fostering a brighter and more equitable future for all.

. REV. FR. ANDREW CAMPBELL

He received a life time award