Accra, Ghana – The Labadi Beach Hotel was the venue for the 2026 JoyNews Impact Makers Awards ceremony tonight, where individuals and organizations making significant positive contributions to communities across Ghana were honored. The event, commencing at 7 PM, celebrated remarkable achievements in transforming lives and driving societal change.
The JoyNews Impact Makers Awards have become a cornerstone event, recognizing the tireless efforts of those dedicated to improving lives in Ghana. This year’s ceremony highlighted a diverse range of impactful work, from healthcare and education to disability inclusion and youth development.
Past recipients have consistently reported that the award recognition significantly amplifies their work. Osei Boateng, founder of the OKV Hope Foundation, shared that his award boosted his humanitarian initiatives’ reach and secured increased support. Similarly, Portia Dumba noted that the accolade facilitated crucial partnerships, enhancing her community-focused endeavors.
The live broadcast of the awards across JoyNews platforms offered a nationwide audience the opportunity to witness inspiring stories of compassion, resilience, and service. Viewers were encouraged to tune in to celebrate these remarkable individuals and groups.
Disability and Social Inclusion
Valeria Adzo Adzatia, an amputee advocate, has established the Smiles of Hope organization. This foundation offers peer counseling, emotional rehabilitation, and reintegration services for individuals who have experienced limb loss. Her work directly supports amputees and their caregivers, with over 100 peer-support programs conducted and more than 500 individuals directly reached in Accra and Nsawam. Her broader outreach has touched over 2,000 people.
Adzatia’s trained team of 11 peer counselors provides vital psychosocial support in major hospitals like Korle Bu and 37 Military Hospital, assisting patients before and after amputation. She has also organized six major symposia, gathering over 1,000 participants to discuss critical issues such as prosthetics, mental health, physiotherapy, and disability rights.
Anthony Osei, a prosthetics and orthotics specialist living with post-polio paralysis, heads the Orthopaedic Training Centre in Nsawam. He designs, fabricates, and repairs assistive devices, supervises clinical services, and screens children for early intervention. Osei also leads outreach programs, delivering care to underserved communities and collaborating with surgeons for corrective surgeries.
Health and Social Welfare
Rev. Christian K. Vorleto, a Physician Assistant in the Volta Region, provides critical care for individuals with severe mental illness living on the streets. He has developed an Integrated Community Care Model, now implemented in nine communities, which focuses on identifying, treating, and reintegrating neglected individuals. Between 2023 and early 2026, he personally funded GHC 52,000 for 69 cases, successfully reintegrating 55 individuals into society.
His work includes the sensitive intervention of rescuing individuals from chains and confinement in shrines and prayer camps. The Bubume Mental Health Foundation, under his leadership, aims to scale this model nationwide, emphasizing accessible and humane mental healthcare. The model boasts a 72.5% reintegration rate and has received endorsement from Ghana’s Mental Health Authority.
Bless Lantam, a nurse at the Keri CHPS Compound in Nkwanta South Municipality, continues to provide essential healthcare in a conflict-affected and hard-to-reach area. Despite disrupted services since 2023, Lantam conducts monthly outreach missions, delivering antenatal care, immunizations, family planning, and treatment for common illnesses. She also tracks defaulters and ensures children remain on vaccination schedules.
Amos Andoh, a sickle cell advocate living with the SC genotype, founded the Focus on Sickle Cell Foundation (FoSCel). The organization drives awareness creation, genotype screening, and policy advocacy, contributing to sickle cell treatment’s inclusion under Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme. Andoh developed a comic-based education model for schools and leads national campaigns to integrate curriculum and screening programs.
Issabella Akwaboah, a teacher and social entrepreneur, addresses menstrual health and girls’ empowerment through the Amazing Girls Foundation. She provides menstrual equity, affordable hygiene products, and reproductive health education, reaching over 6,000 girls and women in 2025. Her foundation also established a production hub for reusable menstrual kits, creating jobs for women and reducing school absenteeism.
Dr. Senyo Success Gbormittah, through Hope for Ghana, has significantly improved health, education, and water access. During COVID-19, he distributed protective equipment and installed handwashing stations. He has also facilitated National Health Insurance Scheme enrollment for over 40,000 people and drilled more than 120 boreholes, enhancing clean water access.
Dr. Anthony Akunzule, a philanthropist, funds boreholes in schools and empowers women through microfinance for small businesses, thereby reducing poverty. He also sponsors students and provides learning materials, strengthening education and economic independence in rural communities.
Education and Youth Development
Faith Aku Senyo, an educator with nearly 13 years of experience, founded initiatives like the READ Project for literacy and the Street School Project for out-of-school children. She employs innovative teaching methods, integrating digital tools like ChatGPT and Canva. Senyo also addresses menstrual poverty and supports incarcerated women through rehabilitation programs. Her work has earned her Ghana’s Most Outstanding Teacher Award in 2023 and finalist status for the 2025 Global Teacher Prize.
Alberta Seyram Adjoa Ananga Ayitey, a dietitian and educator, co-founded the ANEG Foundation to support girl-child empowerment. The foundation has assisted over 1,500 girls with mentorship, education, and leadership training, improving school retention and academic performance. Complementary programs also support boys, ensuring inclusive development.
Felix Akonta Akakpo, a community developer, has invested significantly in education by building a complete school complex serving nearly 1,000 children and supporting teacher salaries. He sponsors students, provides infrastructure, and has built community facilities, including a police station and public toilet. He also supports local sports initiatives to encourage youth participation.
The Cape Coast Youth Development Association (CCYDA) empowers young people through mentorship, scholarships, and skills training programs in fashion, photography, and event planning. They distribute educational materials, conduct free health screenings, and organize environmental campaigns, strengthening youth capacity and promoting development in Cape Coast.
Implications and Future Outlook
The recognition bestowed by the JoyNews Impact Makers Awards underscores the critical role of grassroots initiatives in national development. The success stories highlighted demonstrate a clear pathway for sustainable change, driven by dedication, innovation, and community engagement.
The ongoing efforts of these individuals and organizations are vital in addressing persistent challenges in healthcare, education, and social inclusion across Ghana. As these initiatives continue to scale and evolve, their impact is expected to grow, fostering greater resilience and opportunity for communities nationwide.
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