YPYC Foundation announces nominees for 17th Africa Role Model Awards

The Young Professionals and Youth Coalition (YPYC) Foundation has announced its shortlist for the 17th Africa Role Model Awards, with several prominent personalities from Ghana and other African countries nominated for recognition. The winners will be announced at the 17th Transform Summit and Africa Role Model Awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the ISSER Conference Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon.

The event, which begins at 12:00 noon, will be held under the theme, “Leadership in Action: Breaking Barriers and Building Success.” Chief of Staff, Dr Julius Debrah, is expected to attend as the Special Guest of Honour. The awards seek to recognise individuals whose contributions have made an impact in areas including traditional leadership, academia, religion, business, media, engineering, politics, education, law, energy and philanthropy.

Shortlisted nominees Among those shortlisted are the Ga Mantse, HRM King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II; Central University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kwesi Dartey-Baah; and General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Reverend Dr Stephen Wengam. Others include psychologist, pastor and entrepreneur Lady Rosemond Prempeh of the Ultimate Charismatic Centre; Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Northshore Apparel Ghana Limited, Mohammed Nurideen; and Media General broadcaster Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku.

Chief Executive Officer of Stratcom Africa and convenor of the Flower and Garden Movement, Esther Cobbah, has also been nominated, alongside retired PwC partner and consultant Michael Asiedu Antwi and University of Ghana School of Engineering senior lecturer, Ing. Dr Peace Amoatey. The list further features Samuel Naamgina, a student at the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Sunyani, and Kenyan educationist and trainer Sonali Thakrar.

Other nominees are Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, Legal Adviser to the President and Council Chairperson of the University of Ghana; Afigya Kwabre North MP Collins Adomako; and Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo. Energy and power plant consultant and philanthropist Ing. Philip Badger completes the list. In a statement issued in Accra on October 28, 2026, the YPYC Foundation invited the public to participate in the event, which it said would celebrate leadership, innovation and empowerment across Africa.

The foundation said the summit and awards ceremony would bring together distinguished personalities and other participants to recognise individuals whose work reflects leadership, service and efforts to break barriers to success. The announcement was signed by Hilary Achiaa Osei-Okrah, Media Officer of the YPYC Foundation.