Our Impact.
King Faisal Azangbuego: Graduate GH Media School.
This is King Faisal Azangbuego, a recent graduate of the GH Media School. King was not born blind but became visually impaired after an altercation broke up during a football match at a tender age. One of the players apparently threw sand in his face which was not tended to till situations worsened.
He underwent two eye surgeries after which all efforts proved futile. King Faisal joined the OKF family in 2021. He graduated with excellence and was awarded the "Most Promising Sports Journalist" amongst his peers. Despite losing his sight, King's determination and passion for sports journalism never wavered. He served at A1 FM station in Bolgatanga as part of his industrial attachment.
OKF Scholars: Give Back to the Community Project.
The Osei-Kusi Foundation implemented a “give back to the community initiative” at Asuboe, a farming community in the Eastern region of Ghana. The project valued at 6,500 Ghana Cedis (almost $500), was funded by OKF Advisory Board members and executed by a team of OKF Scholars (young people with disabilities). The team was tasked to identify a problem within their community and to come up with solutions to remedy it. The team identified youth vagrancy as a major issue of the community and sought to create employment opportunities for the needy and jobless youth in Asuboe. They visited the Asuboe community late 2023 to assess the situation of the youth and subsequently decided to support a selected number of individuals in the community who had previously learnt to sew or desired to learn but had no funds to purchase sewing machines.
Five (5) out of over 20 individuals were shortlisted because of their challenging backgrounds which included: single parent homes, orphans, hearing impaired, homeless youth. The project was executed by the OKF Scholars on Saturday 23rd March 2024.
The team led by Osei Opare Asante (visually impaired), purchased and presented 5 sewing machines to the beneficiaries of the project at a beautiful ceremony held at the SDA Church at Asuboe. The event was attended by the leadership of SDA church, the Assemblyman of the area and members of the OKF Scholars Team Touching Lives.
As part of the ceremony, Team Touching Lives led participants through a short session on sight-care for the visually impaired. Aside from providing the sewing machines, the team liaised with some tailors and seamstresses to render free training to the beneficiaries of the project as their way of contributing to the community.
The presentation was led by OKF visually-impaired scholar Osei Opare Asante and supported by other OKF scholars including Memunatu, Tatiana and Michael.
Joseph Akwetey (Walking Impaired): Graduate of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology.
Joseph, an exceptionally brilliant young man who was enrolled on to the OKF Scholarship Scheme in 2017 is now a graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Joseph pursued a four-year undergraduate program in computer science and made us proud.
Joseph though orphaned at a tender age and living with his aunties at Ningo Prampram was determined to make something great out of his life after losing both parents and siblings. He poured himself into his studies. For his final year project, Joseph designed an app to monitor the location of buses on campus to create convenience for students when commuting to their various classes. His project was acknowledged and out-dored amongst five (5) other projects by the Kwame Nkrumah university of Science and Technology (KNUST).
He proceeded to observe the one-year national service to the nation at the Serene Insurance Company Ltd in Accra. Whiles searching for employment Joseph sharpened his skills in graphic designing and is currently assisting the Pan-African Leadership Institute (our sister organisation) with design works whiles taking up part-time teaching on the side.
Opare Osei Asante underwent a major Dental Surgery.
The ability to smile in expressing joy or warmth to others is a blessing so basic that it tends to be overlooked. When we smile or laugh out loud, we expect to do so without fear or reservations.
For several years, Opare Osei-Asante, a third-year student of the University of Cape Coast and visually impaired Scholar of the Osei-Kusi Foundation, had been deprived of the ability to smile. He was diagnosed with a severe case of Steven Johnson Syndrome which affected his sight and teeth. Losing the ability to see and experiencing the weakening of his gums was a double dose of harsh reality. His teeth began to fall out, leaving behind an unsightly picture of what was once a beautiful smile.
Dr. Denise Aprese, a board and club member of OKF who is a dental surgeon at the University of Ghana Dental School at Korle-Bu took up the challenge to restore Opare’s smile. Opare had his teeth examined, x-rayed and cleaned while the weak ones were removed. New dentures which could last between 5-10 years depending on how well he upholds oral hygiene were put in place.
Opare can now laugh or smile wide with ease and confidence.
UNDP Ghana appointment for Grace Annabi as Youth Sounding Board member.
As part of the UNDPs initiative to ensure youth inclusiveness in policy making and in holding government accountable as well as achieving the Sustainable development goals (SDGs), a team of 13 young people were out doored at the launching of the Youth Sounding Board ceremony, held on August 15, 2023 at the UNDP Ghana office in Accra.
Out of about 275 nominees selected from across the nation, 13 were appointed.
These young representatives were to ensure that the voice of Ghana's young population is heard, considered, & integrated into UNDP Ghana programmes. Grace Annabi, an OKF’s first fellow (to have graduate of the OKF Scholarship scheme) was appointed a member of the board to speak for the cause of young people living with disability. Grace is a teacher at the Edinaman Senior High School and a graduate of the University of Cape Coast.
Michael Osai Akron (visually impaired): Graduated from the University of Education, Winneba.
Meet Michael Osai-Akron, the first amongst his sighted siblings to have earned a degree in his family. Michael graduated from the University of Education Winneba with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree. He was recommended for a scholarship by the Akropong School for the blind about 9 years ago.
After his studies, Michael served a one-year long national service at the Akropong School for the Blind, giving back to his community and Ghana. Michael carries a passionate and noble desire to make impacts in the teaching field. After national service, he went on to sit for the Ghana Licensure Exams and excelled. Michael is currently awaiting job placement to continue pursuing his dream.
The Exception To The Rule.
Hulda Antwi is a graduate of the University of Ghana who signed on to the OKF Scholarship Scheme in the year 2012. Though not physically impaired, she piqued OKF’s interest with her outstanding academic results and personality. Hulda had encountered dire financial challenges that threatened to halt her education at the Yaa Asantewaa Senior High School and we were pleased to take up her support.
Hulda served for national service at the University of Ghana, Agric Department and subsequently volunteered with the OKF. The excellence and professionalism Hulda exhibited during the course of her time volunteering with OKF led to her employment as the Assistant Client Relations Officer, OKF. Hulda has since been employed at the Pan-African leadership Institute where she juggles the role of Acting registrar/alumni Coordinator.
How 2021 ended with our scholars.
On December 23rd, 2021, we had a wonderful time interacting and celebrating the festive season. They were each presented with a special Christmas gift as they mingled and socialized with other scholars they had not met in a while. Critical of the event was the one-on-one interaction session with Dr. Kofi Osei-Kusi as they recounted their year and the memories they gathered.
It was a fun-filled day for all involved. We hope 2022 brings more beautiful and impactful times ahead.
The OKF team presented a brand new laptop to Gabriel Tula (tallest in the photo).
The team met with Gabriel Tula, a visually impaired Senior High School graduate who reached out to the foundation to request assistance in paying for his ICT course being offered at the Ghana Blind Union.
Meet Emmanuel Asamoah.
This is Emmanuel Asamaoh, an OKF Scholar and a level 200 student of the University of Ghana. Emmanuel has been with the Osei-Kusi Foundation for over seven (7) years; since his Junior High School education at the Akropong School for the Blind.
Through the OKF Scholarship Scheme, Asamoah was supported through the Okuapeman Senior High School where he aced the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and was adjudged the most influential student for the year.
Asamoah lost his sight at age four (4) but undoubtedly refused to allow this set back, stand in the way of pursuing his dreams. One of which is, to own a chain of online businesses with a strong brand known for excellence.
Asamoah has been learning to code and has successfully developed an educational website for Senior High Schools. He has never been one to look down on his capabilities and we at the Osei-Kusi Foundation, are proud to be a part of his story as it unfolds.
During the Covid -19 lock down in Ghana, OKF presented Asamoah with a new laptop to replace the prior broken one. Asamoah signed up for seventy-eight (78) short online courses in Artificial intelligence with IBM and acquired certificates on cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence and many more. With the aid of assistive technology (a software for PC) which translates information to speech/audio, a visually impaired person is able to use a PC despite his/her inability to view the screen.
Meet Martha Ashong.
Visuall-impaired OKF scholar Martha Ashong and student of Okuapeman senior High School has excelled with flying colors.
We are SO PROUD of Martha. We are always overwhelmed with joy seeing our scholars excel in their endeavors, despite physical challenges. In times like these that we feel that all our labor have not been in vain but rather rewarding and fulfilling. What more? You, our incredible partners are simply PHENOMENAL.
Below is a picture of her result.
Meet Grace Annabi.
Grace (immediate left) participated in an OKF leadership program eight (8yrs) ago.
Grace graduates from University of Cape Coast (UCC)
Grace and OKF Executive President
Grace was inducted as the first OKF Fellow (OKF Alumni) by Ms Sheila Otu-Boateng, a member of the OKF Advisory Board. Her journey as a fellow has just began!!
OKF CELEBRATES the FIRST BENEFICIARY TO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ROLLED OUT OF ITS OKF SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME - The Grace Annabi Journey with OKF
Ms Annabi (visually impaired), aged 31 is an orphan who lost her sight at 13 years old during her stay at the Volta Home Orphanage in the Volta Region, Ghana. Despite becoming visually impaired, Grace had a dream to make it to the university.
Without allowing the challenges of life to dampen her resolve, Grace (in the photo above) made and sold charcoal, brooms, and toffees. This way she could provide for a school uniform, braille sheets, and upkeep while at the Akropong School for the Blind in Ghana.
On one of OKF’s visits to the Volta Home Orphanage, Grace was introduced and adopted as OKF’s first beneficiary. She advanced from the School for the Blind through to the Okuapeman Senior High School. Gradually, her dream began to unravel as she gained admission to the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Through the OKF Scholarship Scheme, Grace received support right from the School for the Blind through to the University and National Service at the Edinaman Senior High Senior School in Cape Coast. With the degree in Education, she secured a teaching job at the Mpoho Senior High School.
Grace, now a much sort-after History Teacher at the Mpoho Senior High in Takoradi (a port city in the Western region of Ghana),was awarded a plot of land and some building materials by the Omanhene (Chief) of the community for the skill and passion she attached to her teachings when he subtly joined one of her classes without her notice.
To further celebrate these achievements and the end of the OKF’s scholarship offer to Grace, a congratulatory ceremony was held on September 11, 2020 at the Vice Chancellors Office near the University of Professional Studies, Accra in Ghana where Grace shared a thought provoking poem titled: “Who is Challenged?”.
She left participants with these questions to ponder on; “If one could not hearthe cry of another for help, then who should be considered deaf? If one couldnot stand on his/her feet to help another in time of need, then who is crippled?
She encouraged persons living with disability to never allow their situation stop them from achieving greatness.
OKF presented Grace with an amount of Three Thousand Ghana Cedis (3000gh), a computer laptop and African print clothing from Lizdon Fashions for having successfully ended her offer.
Some OKF beneficiaries were at the event to congratulate her.
BLIND BUT NOT DISABLED!!
Meet Paul Quansah.
OKF scholar, Paul Quansah is presented with the Gold Award for volunteerism by H.E. Nana Akufo Addo, President of Ghana during the Head of State Awards in 2019.
Meet Joseph.
OKF Scholar 'Joseph' matriculates at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology
Meet Diane.
OKF Scholar 'Diane' graduates from the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
