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Fmr Pres Kufour, FDA CEO, others receive ‘The Change Maker Award’
The Youth Leadership Parliament of Ghana on February 15, 2021 under its initiative of theMillennium Youth Impact Awards (MYIA) conferred the honour of “The Change Maker Award’ on Mrs Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
Mrs Darko had been nominated for the award under the Innovation, Science and Technology category of the awards on the November 28, 2020.
The award is in recognition of her distinguished leadership as CEO in bringing about an innovative transformation of the FDA that directly impacts on the contribution of Science and Technology to the socio-economic development of Ghana.
The annual awards programme seeks to honour distinguished young leaders, individuals, businesses and multinationals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and impacted lives in their areas of endeavour under an initiative called ‘The Millennium Youth Impact Awards’.
Winners of the 2021 award in other categories included, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Hon. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Hon. Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Mr Daniel Addo, CEO of Consolidated Bank Ghana, Nana Kwame Bediako, CEO of Kwarleyz Group of Companies and Former President, H.E John Agyekum Kufuor.
Explaining the steps that led to the selection of award winners, the coordinator of the MYIA indicated that nominees for the Millennium Awards were carefully selected and vetted by the nomination board before they were voted upon by an electoral college from across the 16 regions of Ghana in order to confirm winners of the award in the various categories.
The Awardee of the awards must have been distinguished in one of the three (3) thematic areas of the initiative: (i) Transformation of Lives; (ii) Value Addition; and (iii) Enabling Environment for Human Development.
Mrs Darko has expressed appreciation to the Youth Leadership Parliament of Ghana for the honour conferred on her and assured them of the continued commitment of the leadership and staff of FDA in contributing to ensuring an effective public health and safety system in the country.
GHANA celebrated her 69th Independence Anniversary last Friday with colourful parades across all 16 regions of the country.
This year’s theme: ‘Reflect, Review, Reset,’ emphasised the importance of reflecting on the nation’s journey, assessing its current state, and planning for a brighter future.
At the Jubilee House, dignitaries present were President John Mahama, Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, former Presidents, Akufo-Addo and John Agyekum Kufuor, behalf of the President, former President of Tanzania, and other distinguished guests.
The President, John Dramani Mahama, addressed the nation at the seat of government whiles Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives addressed their various assemblies on.
As part of the celebrations, school children paraded and displayed their marching skills whiles others performed cultural and other social activities to mark the day across the regions.
IN the heart of Ghana’s Central Region, Abura Dunkwa in the Abura-Asebu- Kwamankese District has been shaken by a dramatic rupture in its traditional leadership.
Nana Obo Kwefuah VIII, once the Gyasehene of the town, has been stripped off his stool after allegations of misconduct — including a clandestine romantic relationship with the community’s fetish priestess.
The Odompem Adwenadze Royal Family announced the destoolment last weekend, after months of mounting tension in the town.
Abusuapanyin Kwame Essoun, who led the process, declared that the chief’s removal was justified by both ritual neglect and personal indiscretions.
“He has refused to perform the necessary rites during festivals,” Essoun explained. And his affair with a fetish priestess is against our traditions,” he added.
Family elders echoed the decision. Obaapanyin Aba Appiawa revealed that repeated summons over five months were ignored.
“We invited him several times, but he didn’t come. I fully support the decision to destool him,” she said firmly.
Destoolment remains one of the most powerful disciplinary tools in Ghana’s chieftaincy system. Rooted in centuries of custom, it is the formal removal of a chief deemed unfit to serve — whether for corruption, abuse of power, neglect of ritual duties, or moral failings.
In Akan tradition, chiefs are not merely political figures; they are custodians of spiritual balance. Their authority rests on their ability to perform rites, uphold taboos, and embody moral integrity. A breach of these responsibilities can destabilise the community, making destoolment both a corrective measure and a symbolic act of purification.
“Chiefs are expected to remain above reproach,” said a local elder who requested anonymity. “When they fail, the stool itself loses respect.”
A close relative of the destooled chief, who resides at Abura Abaka near Abura Dunkwa, told The Spectator that Nana Kwefuah had been in a secret relationship with the priestess for a long time. He expressed surprise that the matter had now erupted into public view
From Kingsley E. Hope
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