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New African Magazine names Merck Foundation CEO among 100 most influential Africans
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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
Construction of a major underground stormwater drain along the Dr. Busia Highway within the Kaneshie enclave will commence on September 7, 2026.
The Project Coordinator for the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, Dr. Kwadwo Ohene Sarfo, announced this at a special media briefing on Wednesday.
According to him, the works will involve the construction of a double-cell underground rectangular drain measuring approximately 10 metres wide and 1.95 kilometres long, stretching from Pamprom Junction to First Light Junction.
The new drain will replace the existing two 1.2-metre diameter pipes, which are inadequate to carry the volume of stormwater in the area.
Dr. Sarfo said the drain will connect at one end to the recently completed section within the Accra Academy campus and at the other end to the existing drain at Pamprom Junction.
He said the construction is expected to run from September 2026 to October 2027.
The project forms part of government’s broader flood prevention and mitigation programme aimed at addressing perennial flooding in Accra.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has withdrawn from the party’s National Chairmanship race.
In a statement issued yesterday, Chairman Wontumi who is currently serving a 20-year jail term said his decision was driven by his love for the party and his unwillingness to let his personal circumstances distract the NPP from its rebuilding efforts.
“There are moments in the life of a man when the heart wants to continue, but duty demands sacrifice. Moments when one must quietly set aside personal ambition, not because the dream has died, but because the family he loves must not be made to carry his burden. Today, I find myself at such a painful moment,” he wrote.
He disclosed that after many nights of prayer, sober reflection and consultations with his family, legal team, party elders, campaign team and trusted supporters, he concluded that his present situation must not become an additional burden on the NPP.
“This is not the decision my heart desired, but sometimes, true love requires us to release what we deeply want in order to protect what we love even more,” he added.
Recounting his years of service, Chairman Wontumi said he had served the party with everything within him, walking through heat and rain, travelling to remote communities and standing with the grassroots in both victory and defeat.
“For many years, I have served the NPP with everything within me… The NPP is not merely a political party to me. It is my family. It is my home. It is a cause to which I have dedicated a significant part of my life,” he stated.
He explained that the party, already carrying the pain of electoral defeat and the huge responsibility of preparing for the future, should not be made to carry his personal weight.
“That is why I cannot allow my present situation or personal ambition to distract the party from the difficult work of rebuilding. I cannot ask the party to carry my weight when it is already carrying the pain of defeat and the enormous responsibility of preparing for the battle ahead. I would rather carry this pain quietly than allow the party I love to suffer because of me,” he said.
He further sympathized with his supporters across the 16 regions, acknowledging that the decision would be painful for many who had sacrificed for his campaign.
“To my teeming supporters across all sixteen regions, I know this message will hurt. I know many of you will read it with tears in your eyes because I understand the sacrifices you have made for this journey,” he said.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
