News
New African Magazine names Merck Foundation CEO among 100 most influential Africans
The UK based New African Magazine has named the Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, Rasha Kelej, among the 100 Most Influential Africans for 2025.
Dr. Kelej appears on the list alongside the Presidents of Angola, South Africa and Ghana.
The annual list recognises African leaders, innovators and change makers whose work continues to shape the continent and improve lives.
According to the magazine, the 2025 special edition highlights individuals whose influence is driving progress in areas such as public service, business, technology, health, education, media, sports and social development.
Dr. Kelej described the recognition as an honour and a strong motivation to continue her work across Africa.
She explained that the award reflected her long standing commitment to strengthening healthcare systems, supporting women living with infertility and promoting education for girls through Merck Foundation programmes.
Under her leadership, Merck Foundation has rolled out several health and social initiatives across Africa and other regions.
These include scholarships for doctors and healthcare workers to train in critical medical specialties, programmes aimed at improving access to quality healthcare and campaigns to address stigma linked to infertility.
The foundation’s flagship “More Than a Mother” campaign focuses on reproductive and fertility health, public education and mindset change, while also supporting women and girls through training and awareness activities.
Over the years, Merck Foundation has awarded about 2,500 scholarships to healthcare providers from more than 50 countries.
Many of the beneficiaries have become the first trained specialists in their fields in their home countries.
The foundation has also supported girl education by providing over 1,200 scholarships to bright but underprivileged schoolgirls across several African countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
New African Magazine noted that Dr. Kelej’s work has gone beyond healthcare to address wider social issues such as child marriage, gender based violence and discrimination against women.
Her efforts have also brought together media, arts and creative communities to raise awareness and give a voice to vulnerable groups.
The recognition adds to Dr. Kelej’s growing reputation as one of Africa’s leading voices in healthcare development and women’s empowerment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
