Each of the beneficiaries received a GH¢2,000 grant to invest in their businesses as promised during the selection process. 

Foundation

Mr Akrofi and his wife established the A. M. Akrofi Educational Foundation in 2022 when his father, Albert Mensah Akrofi, from Amlakpo and Matsekope died. The foundation is aimed at supporting the two communities in diverse ways.

The foundation has since offered scholarships to two cohorts of six students from both Amlakpo and Matsekope. For instance, in November 2022, six students were given scholarships totalling GH¢68,000 to pursue courses at the tertiary level.

In February 2023, 10 students from Amlakpo and Matsekope received GH¢5,000 each, totalling GH¢100,000, while in January this year, scholarships were awarded to 40 students in senior high schools, all amounting to GH¢200,000.

By the close of the year, another batch of 60 senior high school students will receive a total of GH¢300,000.

Aside from the scholarships, the foundation has allocated GH¢25,000 for water supply for the Amlakpo community and GH¢62,000 for textbooks and sanitary pads for the two Presbyterian Primary schools in the two beneficiary communities.

At the disbursement ceremony held at Amlakpo last Saturday, Mr Akrofi said having been blessed by his parents and as a servant of the Lord, he also sought to be a blessing to others, including those at Amlakpo and Matsekope. 

Objectives

He said the main objective of the foundation, among others, was to empower parents to earn a decent living to take care of themselves and their children, promote peace and unity in the communities and promote character development for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“It is my prayer, therefore, that you the first recipients of the grant will prove faithful to make the project a success.

“Your active involvement is crucial for the success of this initiative. It is also my prayer that you will one day provide grants for others in the two communities for them to also benefit,” Mr Akrofi said.

One of the recipients, Theresa Korkor Baako, expressed her profound gratitude to the foundation for the honour done them with what she called start-up capital.

She promised that the recipients would use the grant well to sustain their businesses and take care of their families.

The Chairman of the executive board of the foundation, Rev. Prof. Seth Ayettey, a former Dean of the University of Ghana Medical School and the Foundation Provost, the College of Health Science, University of Ghana, said Mr and Mrs Akrofi did what very few people would do at a time when the country was in serious economic crisis and each one was seeking for his or her interest.

The Queenmother of Amlakpo, Nana Adede Akrofi, urged the women to make good use of the funds, especially when it was not to be paid back.