The Anwelle Foundation was officially launched in Jirapa, Ghana, with a call to citizens and natives to take greater responsibility for the development of their communities. Paramount Chief of the Jirapa Traditional Area, Naa Di-Naa Donlabong III, emphasized the need for a culture shift from entitlement to personal contribution. He made the call at the launch of the foundation, which aims to address resource gaps through interventions in education, youth empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, and rural development.
The foundation's mission is to close gaps in access to educational support in rural Ghana. Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Frank Anwelle, said his motivation for establishing the foundation was rooted in personal experience and concerns about the arbitrary nature of access to educational support. Before its formal launch, the foundation had already provided emergency relief to students displaced by a school fire, distributed sewing machines to vocational trainees, and drilled boreholes for clean drinking water.
The launch attracted international diplomatic participation, including the Presidential Envoy for Trade, Investments, and Special Duties of the Republic of Liberia, Daniel N. Kolubah. He urged African leaders and organizations to focus on measurable community impact, saying that leadership is not only about achieving personal success but also about creating opportunities and positively impacting lives.
The foundation has announced a youth-centered automotive apprenticeship partnership with industry operator Johani Annie. Under the initiative, selected young people from Jirapa will undergo specialized technical training at automotive branches in Tamale, Sunyani, and Accra. The foundation will subsequently establish a modern auto workshop in Jirapa to employ the trainees locally.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, commended the initiative and supported it with a personal donation of GH₵20,000. He called on local actors to develop integrated agricultural value chains to make farming more attractive to young people. However, he cautioned residents against placing excessive demands on the foundation, warning that such pressure could undermine its ability to operate sustainably.
The Board Chairman of the Anwelle Foundation, Prof Williams Angko, said the name Anwelle translates from the local dialect as "no one should be left behind." He pledged that the governing board would uphold strict standards of transparency, non-partisanship, and merit-based assistance. The success of the ceremony will ultimately be measured by sustained action on the ground.
Key stakeholders, including traditional authorities, government officials, diplomats, academics, and civil society actors, attended the launch. The event also featured a contribution of GH₵5,000 from the Leader of the People's National Convention, Bernard Anbataayela Mornah. The foundation's initiatives aim to transform the lives of people in Jirapa and beyond.
Key points
- The Anwelle Foundation aims to address poverty, youth unemployment, and rural development through education, youth empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.
- The foundation has already provided emergency relief, distributed sewing machines, and drilled boreholes for clean drinking water before its formal launch.
- The foundation's youth-centered automotive apprenticeship partnership will provide specialized technical training and employment opportunities for young people from Jirapa.
