Profile
Combing streets, ghettos for emotionally traumatised boys …the story of the ‘Woman King’ and Boy Child Supportive Care Foundation
In a society where conversations about the safety and wellbeing of people have always tilted to the side of women and the girl child, one often wonder who cares about the state of the young boys at the same age as the girls.
Boys have been usually considered emotionally and physically stronger vessels, able to go through tough and difficult challenges without the support often enjoyed by girls who go through less or similar trials.
Some of these boys have grown up knowing of a popular Ghanaian parlance ‘barima nsu’, which is literally translated to ‘men don’t cry.’
So, sometimes people don’t realise that behind this show of strength and swagger, lies a soft, emotionally traumatised boy that fears losing his masculinity by bringing out the other part of him.
This was what led to the establishment of the Boy Child Supportive Care Foundation, a little over a year ago, to provide that comforting shoulder for boys to share their concerns.
Even that thought to care for boys came from a woman, Edna Korama Yamoah, popularly known as ‘Woman King’ who stands for the plight of boys and men.
The story behind the Boy Child Supportive Care Foundation is quite fascinating, especially when both boys and men have failed to realise and accept their predicament.
But for the Woman King, boys and men must not see themselves in such struggles as a normal thing.
“You see, boys have been neglected for a long time. We always hear about the girl child. Everything in this society is about the girl child. We think the girls are vulnerable, but boys are more vulnerable.
In fact, most boys are more vulnerable than the girls. Boys get so emotional but they hide it because we always know them to be men and not expected to cry,” She explained.
After establishing the foundation, a lot of such boys have been brought together, especially those that are going through emotional problems.
Within this short space of time, the foundation has managed to put about 16 boys in basic school, almost 200 in technical and vocation through scholarship, and has over 150 engaged in sports activities, specifically football and basketball.
Without support from organisations, the foundation has struggled to send these boys to Senior High School (SHS) due to financial challenges, although the SHS is free but without some needed logistics.
According to the Woman King, the work of the foundation requires occasional visits to schools where they talk about issues on mental health and wellbeing.
“We also do charity works. We also do feeding on the streets and ghettos.
“The foundation currently don’t have a hub to house them. That is even not a major concern now since most of them have places to sleep. It’s just that they are poor. They don’t have what to eat, they don’t have what to wear.”
“They are not necessarily street children. These are boys with their families aged between 10-21 years. They are with the families but we see clearly they are going wayward.
“So, we help them with counselling. We do one-on-one counselling. We do interactive counselling. We do that a lot in secondary schools, especially in five schools.
The foundation’s operations are not always smooth as expected because of their backgrounds.
“They are from poor homes. Some are very stubborn as well, and proud. Sometimes you want to help a boy child and he’s like, I’m comfortable where I am. I want quick money. I want to carry goods to get money.
But I have a way of facing them. So, I’m always in kick; every day, I’m in kick. You hardly see me in flashy clothing.
“I go to the gated houses where people cannot go, where the police won’t go. Me, I go there. I go to the ghettos to speak to them.
“I make them feel I’m not against them. Rather, I want to understand them, so they should also understand me.
“Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I just get out of my car and walk along the streets just to look at these boys, how they behave, and their mannerisms,” she narrated.
Woman King has currently written proposals to churches, organisations and philanthropists to find ways to fund these activities that she believes will help a lot of boys realise their dreams.
“I didn’t have any grant. I didn’t even have the idea of writing to do this because we were not even a year old. So we contacted a few people and they started adopting some of the cases.
“So we have people who have adopted the education project. We have only individuals who are taking care of individual boys. They pay their school fees and most of them are in the private schools. Because they want the boys to be in the private schools.
“But after a year, we are collaborating with this big school with the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission.
We are also endorsed by the Ministry of Arts and Culture. We have the endorsement because there is this upcoming project; Arts and Craft. We wanted to do it in the secondary schools, but we realised that Ghana Education Service may delay us,” she stated.
At the sports level, the foundation requires training and remuneration for their coaches in charge of their 14, 16 and 18 football teams.
Woman King is a mother of two girls and believes it is for a purpose that she did not give birth to a boy because her passion has led her to take care of so many of them.
“I feel so good and proud when I see something good coming from my boys. When I see them so happy, it makes me so happy, it makes me feel I am on top of the world.
“I feel good that I have made an impact in somebody’s life, because I see progress. All these boys are transformed.
“And at the end of the day, they all come saying thank you. So it makes me very proud and emotional.”
Womans King’s next agenda is to have a “Books and Stationary Support Festival coming up in the first week of January when schools reopen. We are doing this because I went to some schools, about two or three schools in some villages and the teachers appealed to me to bring them books.”
In this regard, the foundation is calling for support to support these needy school children.
It is the belief of Woman King that the foundation would one day gain international recognition for the good works it is rendering to society.
By Cecelia Yada Lagba
IN the annals of Ghana’s sporting history, certain individuals stand out not merely for participating in sport, but for transforming it.
Rev. Emmanuel D. Niikoi is one such figures. Revered as the father of modern netball in Ghana, is widely credited with rescuing the game from near extinction and transforming it into a vibrant, structured and nationally recognised sports discipline.
His journey reflects vision, resilience and an unwavering commitment to youth and sports development.
Netball was introduced to the then Gold Coast by Christian missionaries alongside formal education. By the 1960s and early 1970s, the sport had gained remarkable popularity in schools and colleges, ranking second only to football and, in some institutions, rivaling it in appeal.
However, during the 1974/75 academic year, the Ghana Education Service (GES) took a policy decision to step down netball in favour of basketball development. The decision dealt a severe blow to the sport.
Between 1975 and 1985, competitive netball virtually disappeared from Ghana’s sporting calendar.
That decision of the GES can be blamed for the current state of the sports that is producing heroines across the globe.
The revival of the game can be traced to 1985 during the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
At the time, Rev. Niikoi was serving as Chief Editor (News) in the Radio Newsroom. Understanding both the historical importance and untapped potential of netball, he championed the inclusion of a netball tournament as part of the anniversary celebrations. The event reignited public interest and reminded many of the sport’s former glory.
Crucially, Rev. Niikoi did not allow the momentum to fade after the festivities. The GBC netball team formed for the tournament, aptly named “Golden Hands,” became the cornerstone of a national revival campaign.
With determination and personal sacrifice, he led tours across the country, using the team as a practical training platform.
He personally taught sports teachers under the GES the official rules of netball, reintroduced structured competition, and restored confidence in the sport’s viability.
These efforts culminated with the formation of the Netball Association of Ghana in 1988, now known as the Netball Federation of Ghana.
In 1990, the association gained formal recognition from the National Sports Authorities, previously known as the National Sports Council (NSC), restoring netball’s status as an official sporting discipline.
This milestone marked the rebirth of organised netball in Ghana and cemented Rev. Niikoi’s place as founder of the national governing body.
Revival soon transitioned into consolidation. Over the years, Rev. Niikoi consistently lobbied educational and sports authorities to reintegrate netball into major school competitions.
His advocacy led to the sport’s reintroduction into the National Basic Schools Sports Festival, the Senior High and Technical Schools Sports Festival, the Colleges of Education games, and competitions under the Ghana University Sports Association (GUSA).
Today, netball is played across the entire educational structure in Ghana, from basic schools to public universities, a testament to his sustained and strategic efforts.
On the continental and global front, Ghana is a full member of World Netball and was a founding member of the Confederation of Africa Netball Associations (CANA), now Africa Netball.
In 2004, Ghana hosted the inaugural Africa Netball Cup of Nations in Accra and emerged champions after defeating Namibia in the final. The victory not only boosted Ghana’s sporting image but also validated years of groundwork.
In 2007, Rev. Niikoi was elected Director of Marketing and Media for CANA, serving a four-year term and contributing to the sport’s development across the continent.
In 2019, following governance reforms required by the International Olympic Committee to lift sanctions related to state interference in sports administration, national federations were mandated to adopt independent constitutions. Under this new framework, the Netball Federation of Ghana successfully drafted its constitution and conducted elections.
On June 19, 2019, Rev. Niikoi was elected the federation’s first President under the independent constitutional order which is symbolic and deserved recognition of decades of service.
Beyond netball administration, Rev. Niikoi also served two terms spanning eight years from March 2018 to March 2025 as an Executive Board Member of the Ghana Olympic Committee.
His presence on the board ensured that netball maintained visibility within Ghana’s broader Olympic movement.
A Bachelor of Arts graduate in Combined Honours (History and Law), Rev. Emmanuel D. Niikoi has trained numerous coaches and umpires nationwide, strengthening the sport’s technical foundation and ensuring sustainability.
His leadership style combines administrative discipline with grassroots engagement, making him both a strategist and a mentor.
From dormancy to dynamism, the resurgence of netball in Ghana bears his unmistakable imprint. Through advocacy, institution-building and capacity development, Rev. Niikoi has secured a lasting legacy.
Today, every netball match played in Ghana, whether at a basic school court or a university festival stands as living testimony to his vision and perseverance.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
AUTISM Awareness Care and Training (AACT) is Ghana’s first autism-focused centre, playing a pioneering role in the care, education, and advocacy for children on the autism spectrum and their families.
Established in 1998, AACT began as a parent-support and training initiative at a time when autism was poorly understood in Ghana. Many families raising autistic children faced stigma, isolation, and limited access to information or professional assistance.
Over the years, the organisation has evolved into a full-fledged autism care and training centre, responding to the growing demand for specialised services and sustained nationwide awareness.
AACT is currently located in Haatso, Accra, where it operates a structured day programme serving about 25 learners daily. The centre provides a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where children with autism are guided to develop essential life, social, and functional skills.
Programmes at the centre focus on independent living skills, vocational and pre-vocational training, functional academic skills, and therapeutic interventions. These activities are tailored to the individual needs of each learner, recognising that children on the autism spectrum learn and develop at different paces.
According to Abeiku Grant, Head of Programmes at AACT, the centre’s philosophy is centred on ability rather than limitation.
“Every autistic child is different,” he said. “Our work is to support them at their own pace and help them discover what they can do, not to focus on what they cannot do.”
Beyond centre-based services, AACT places strong emphasis on autism awareness and advocacy, particularly within schools and communities. Many children with autism in Ghana continue to face rejection and exclusion due to stigma, misinformation, and the lack of trained personnel in educational institutions.
In 2025, AACT reached over 20 schools across the country, providing autism education to teachers, students, and school administrators.
The organisation also runs free teacher training programmes, equipping educators with practical knowledge and basic tools to support autistic learners in inclusive classroom settings.
“Many schools tell us they are not resourced or trained to handle autistic learners,” Mr Grant explained. “Instead of waiting for change, we decided to go to them and train teachers for free.”
AACT also engages learners directly, addressing widespread misconceptions about autism, including the false belief that autism is contagious or caused by bad parenting. These outreach programmes aim to build empathy among students and promote peer support for autistic learners in mainstream schools.
Another major challenge confronting families is limited access to autism services, especially outside Accra. With most autism centres concentrated in the capital, many families from other regions are forced to travel long distances or keep their children at home due to cost, stigma, or lack of support.
“Education is not meant only for typical children,” Mr Grant stressed. “Children with autism also have the right to education and care. No child should be hidden because of lack of understanding or opportunity.”
As part of its outreach work, AACT supports parents to overcome stigma and encourages social interaction for children with autism, believing that community engagement is essential for development and confidence building.
In December 2025, the centre received what it described as its largest donation of the year, raised by children from the Unmasked Mentoring initiative. According to the organisation, the donation was particularly significant as it demonstrated empathy and social responsibility among young people.
As a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, AACT depends largely on donations, partnerships, and goodwill to sustain and expand its work. Current needs include a minibus for community-based social activities, expansion of its facility to accommodate more learners, sponsorship support for children from financially challenged families, and funding to scale autism awareness programmes nationwide.
Looking ahead, AACT envisions a Ghanaian society that is inclusive, informed, and supportive of persons with autism.
“Our goal is a Ghana where children with autism are accepted and supported,” Mr Grant said. “Every child has potential. All they need is understanding, opportunity, and care.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
