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Dr. Abena Nyarkoa launches Nkunim Educational Project in Ghana
Ghanaian UK-based lecturer, Dr.Abena Nyarkoa has launched Nkunim Project, to foster education equality amongst students in Ghana.
The Nkunim initiative is aimed at promoting inclusive, equitable teaching in mainstream education and bridging the educational gaps for students from marginalised and disadvantaged backgrounds.
Speaking at the launch which took place at the British Council last Friday, Dr.Abena Nyarkoa said, everyone wants to join the winning team, adding that in most schools attention is always paid to those who are needy but brilliant children.
She queried “Who will cater for the vulnerable, adamant, those who are not brilliant? They mostly end up repeating the class or are suspended from school.”
According to her, “This is what I did at my PhD level when I came to Ghana to collect data. What I realised was when a child is physically disabled, when I child is deaf or blind, they take them to either School for the Deaf or Blind, what happens when the child is mild autistic, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,(ADHD) what if the child was born with Dyslexia (a learning difficulty).
Dr.Nyarkoa added that these children are mostly integrated into mainstream learning without anyone providing for them.
She said there is a difference between disability and disorder, adding that everyone is different and must be catered for when it comes to learning.
Dr.Nyarkoa further urged parents and stakeholders in the academic spaces to pay attention to the non-academic needs of children, adding that it is the reason the Nkunim Project was birthed.
This, she said, was a direct result of the findings after she undertook her project in Ghana.
According to her, at the heart of the Nkunim Educational Project is, “education is a fundamental right, not a privilege.”
Dr.Abena Nyarkoa noted that they are on a mission to tackle the growing disparities in educational opportunities, guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 & 5.
“Our goal is to create an inclusive, equitable, and high-quality learning environment in mainstream education, ensuring that every child, regardless of their socio-economic status, has access to the tools they need to succeed,” she added.
Speaking at the event, Oheneyere Gifty Anti recounted how her similar support to some individuals over the years has helped shape their lives and career.
She advised Dr.Nyarkoa to seek some psychological support for these individuals she would be supporting.
“There would be attacks, and the terrain is rough, but with determination and resilience you would overcome, because what you are doing is needed, and would go a long way to help others,” she said.
Nkunim is a visionary non-profit initiative dedicated to reshaping the landscape of education in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa.
They seek to work closely with the government of Ghana and other governments in the region to provide quality and equal access to mainstream education to help unbridled the potential of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The NKUNIM project is a movement that is committed to education quality, thus it is for anyone and everyone who wants to see more levels of quality and fairness in public education.
Their name, ‘Nkunim,’ symbolizes triumph and victory, reflecting our commitment to overcoming educational inequalities and unlocking the boundless potential of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
