By Agbaxode Emmanuel
Akatsi (V/R), July 27, GNA – The Atidefe Foundation has rolled out a series of educational, healthcare, security and youth empowerment interventions in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region.
The fifth edition of the exercise, held at the Akatsi RC Park, was accompanied by a Youth Empowerment Forum on the theme: “Empowering Youth for a Purpose-Driven Future.”
Mr Thomas Yao Atidefe, the Founder and Chairman of the Foundation, said the initiative had evolved significantly since its establishment in November 2022, when the Foundation distributed its first batch of 610 coconut seedlings.
He said the Foundation had remained committed to creating economic opportunities for young people through agriculture and education.
Mr Atidefe further disclosed that nearly 15,000 coconut seedlings had so far been distributed across communities in the Volta Region.
He said a pledge made during the fourth phase of the project in 2025 to sponsor five brilliant but needy students to pursue tertiary education had been fulfilled.
The beneficiaries were currently studying respectively at the University of Ghana and the University of Professional Studies, Accra, he said.
The Foundation, as part of the event, presented a modern photocopier and executive chairs to the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Health Service in the Akatsi South Municipality.
It also presented sewing machines to apprentices and sports kits to youth groups, to support skills development and youth participation in sports.
There were also cash support presentations to continuing university students from the Municipality, to assist them in pursuing their academic programmes.
Legal practitioners and agriculture experts at the forum educated participants on modern agricultural practices, opportunities within the legal profession and the importance of discipline, leadership and purposeful living.
They encouraged the youth to embrace agriculture and other professions as pathways to personal and community development.
Fatahiya Abdul Aziz, the Member of Parliament for the Savelugu Constituency and Chairperson of the event, described the initiative as more than a seedling distribution exercise.
She said the initiative reflected leadership, community development, and investment in people.
Fatahiya also commended the Foundation for combining agricultural support with youth mentorship, education and skills development.
She explained that coconut cultivation had enormous potential to create jobs, improve household incomes and contribute significantly to Ghana’s economy.
Fatahiya also called for stronger collaboration among government, traditional authorities, civil society organisations, the private sector and philanthropic organisations, to expand opportunities for young people.
Togbega Dorglo Anumah VI, the Paramount Chief of Avenor and Patron of the Foundation, gave his commendation for the sustenance of the initiative and investment in the future of the youth.
He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the opportunities responsibly to improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of Avenor.
Togbega Dorglo said partnerships between traditional authorities and civil society organisations remained critical to building resilient communities.
Mr John Paul Semavor, an aspiring Deputy Volta Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), pledged to sponsor two young people from the area to pursue legal education.
Mr Semavor said the gesture formed part of efforts to expand access to professional opportunities for the youth.
Dr Edem Segbefia, a Deputy National Chairman hopeful of the NDC, encouraged the youth to embrace opportunities created by the Foundation.
He said the current NDC administration would roll soon out several development programmes and projects in the area, to create more opportunities for the youth and accelerate community development.
The Atidefe Foundation, established in 2022, continued to expand its community development interventions through agriculture, education, healthcare, security, sports and vocational training, with the aim of improving livelihoods and promoting sustainable development across the Volta Region.
The event attracted chiefs from Avenor, members of the clergy, youth groups, beneficiaries and other dignitaries.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Agbaxode Emmanuel
Email: [email protected]