The ten most influential youths in Obuasi

Emmanuel Agyemfra Boateng

"One doesn’t need to have 100 years of life to live for 100 years...just do something for which the world remembers you for 100 years" - from Hindi movie.

These young, promising and inspiring youth I’m about to write on live their lives according to the quote above! Obuasi is well known globally for Gold mining, but what some of us are forgetting is that we also have the best when it comes to human resources and most of them are youth!

Most of these ten icons I haven’t met personally, but I have read and followed their activities from time to time and I appreciate the efforts they are making and the new brand they are giving our dear Municipality. Readers are free to make comments and also bring out their own list.

10. MR.JOSEPH OWUSU-ADDO;

He is a professional student counsellor and, Joe is well known in Obuasi for his role in Music directing in most Churches in and around the Obuasi Municipality.

Big Joe as his called, have saved so many frustrated youths who at a point in time wanted to take their own lives or do something silly! Joe makes sure he makes his adult or young clients feel important in the society.

Attending to everyone who needs him at every point in time, such a selfless person needs an understanding wife the reason why God granted him a loving and understanding partner. Mr. Owusu-Addo is also the Host for YOUTH PLATFORM, a youth oriented talk show which runs on SHAFT 98.1 FM in Obuasi, every Saturday.

He's really making an impact on the youth of Obuasi and beyond through his counsellorship and his radio programs.

9. Genevieve Amponsah

Genevieve is a product of Takoradi Polytechnic and the hostess of ‘Avenue of Love’ on Shaft Fm. Popularly known as ‘Pomaah’, she entertains the youth of Obuasi with her night love songs and also provides advice on relationship matters. She is a popular face in many programs organised in Obuasi including the just ended 3rd Youth Revolution Conference, 2015 which has been dubbed by many as the best entrepreneurship program of the year in the golden city.

8. PRINCE ABOAGYE

Prince is the Director of Community Programs at Centre for Social Impact Studies (CeSIS), a Ghanaian registered non-governmental organization formed to address the challenges of evidence-based advocacy among civil society actors working in Ghana’s extractive sector.

Prince Aboagye holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrated Community Development Studies from the University for Development Studies with specializations in Community Development Mobilization, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation and Advocacy.

He has extensive knowledge in civil society work having worked with WACAM, a mining-advocacy organization as a community volunteer. Mr. Aboagye has also worked with Centre for Social Impact Studies (CeSIS) as the Community Relations Officer. He is a member of Publish What You Pay – Ghana, Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas, Coalition on Right to Information and Tax Justice Network. He has participated in several workshops on mining, how to integrate small scale mining into mainstream economy, oil and gas, etc.

Mr. Aboagye's areas of specialization are Community Mobilization, Community Facilitation Skills, Communication Skills, Community Volunteerism, Advocacy Skills, etc. He has facilitated meetings between community members and foreign interns visiting Obuasi to familiarize themselves with the socio-economic development and its environmental impacts of mining.

7. MR.ERIC BENTIL;

Eric Bentill is a Psychologist by profession and an executive of the Obuasi Scripture Union and also with the Bible Society of Ghana. Mr. Bentil is known for his fire brand nature when it comes to issues concerning the youth! He is a regular guest on various radio programs on most of the radio stations in the Golden City. You don’t need to own an empire before you can make an impact! That’s what Mr. Bentil preaches always on every platform he stands.

6. FRANK ABOAGYE DANYASAH:

A young but vibrant politician in his own way. He contested for the Obuasi East Parliamentary seat during the 2012 general elections on the ticket of the Progressive Peoples Party, making him one of the youngest candidate in the constituency.

Frank is the Chief Executive Officer of Danywise Estate and Construction and is touching the lives of the youth in several ways.

5. MUSTAPHA ALHASSAN BADINI

Mustapha is the mouth piece of the Muslim youth in the golden city, defending and speaking for the cause of the youth in the municipality. He is part of the Moshi Youth Association in Obuasi and plays a role as their secretary. A devoted Muslim who believes that change can start from the zongos and spread through the whole nation, Mustapha has spoken and even hosted shows that concerns Muslim youths and their role in nation building. He is also the communication liaison Officer for Youth Alliance for Development.

4. PRINCE AMPOFO:

Prince is a young achiever with over five years experience in youth leadership development. He is the president of Placenta Leadership Foundation and Executive Directive of PALMinistry. Prince is passionate about the gospel and currently works as administrator at his church. He has travelled throughout Ghana on a youth development agenda impacting thousands through the works of Rev. Albert & Comfort Ocran, Dzibordi K. Dosoo and Albert Kusi. He is the author of ‘LEADER AT LAST!’ and a prolific writer whose works have been presented to reputable industry players such as Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Apostle Sam Korankye Ankrah, KSM and Roland Agambire.

Recently, his foundation organized the 3rd Youth Revolution Conference, 2015 at Obuasi bringing the youth face to face with great personalities such as Mr. Frederick Attakumah (MD, AngloGold Ashanti), Mr. John Asamoah Boadi (MD, Golden Pride Savings and Loans), Dr. Mrs. Linda Forde (UCC) and Mrs. Yvonne Adomako Asabere (CEO, La Vie).

3. CHARLES SANTONG WUNDENGBA:

A tutor by profession, but blessed with in-depth knowledge about the doings in our social life. High Bishop as he is affectionately called by many of the youths in Obuasi is also the Research and advocacy Coordinator for YOUTH ALLIANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT, an NGO BASED IN Obuasi.

Charles is the founder and Managing Editor for Northerngh.com, a news website that projects the development of Northern Ghana. Sacrificing his life for other youths is his hobby. Most of his articles are all on the betterment of the youth especially those in Northern Ghana and in Obuasi. He has spoken on various youth empowerment summits in Akrokerri, Assin Anyinabirim and Edubiase. His initiative ‘ONE GIRL, ONE DESK’ is aimed at kicking out teenage marriage and pregnancy and keeping girls in the classroom.

His name became a household one when he and others campaigned against the Obuasi Mine closure when it was first mentioned

He is a regular guest on Shaft FM’s Youth Platform and other programs on O FM all in Obuasi.

2. GAMEL SANKARL:

Gamel Sankarl is a Chemical Pathologist by profession, which would’ve confined him to the Laboratory all day, but just as a yolk will not continue to be a yolk, he popped out of the white over coat to bring a change to the many plights of the Obuasi youth in his own unique way.

Gamel is a transformational coach, author and a youth activist, who among all his busy schedule still gets time to touch the lives of youth in Obuasi through his Talks and books.

Gamel got nominated for BEFFTA UK, Global awards, 2014 as best author among other 30 other authors across the world, the only one from Ghana and Obuasi to be precise!

The second most influential youth in Obuasi have authored close to 20 bestselling books and still counting.

Some of his books are: AUTHOR AT ANY AGE, GAMELIAN GEMS, POETIVATION, BETTER IS BETTER and other life empowering ones. His books unlike others is simplified to catch the attention of all from upper primary to Tertiary.

1.ROBERT ALI TANTI:

Robert Tanti is the Executive Director for YOUTH ALLIANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT, an internationally recognized Youth oriented NGO, which is headquarted in Obuasi and New Edubiase. His zeal for the empowerment of the youth have pushed him to jump many hurdles in achieving his goals when it comes to youth matters.

He is the Country Director for Organization for African Youth and also the District Coordinator for National Youth Authority in the Adansi South District in the Ashanti Region. A professional counsellor and a tutor.

The MOST INLUENTIAL YOUTH in Obuasi, is currently championing the fight against Teenage Pregnancy with his NGO and it is dubbed the Anti-Teenage Pregnancy Campaign. Mr. Ali Tanti is a selfless, passionate and determined youth activist who leave no stone unturned for the betterment of the youth in and around Obuasi.

Robert Ali Tanti is a regular face on Adom TV's Awaresem and other reproductive programs on GTV. A man who will spend his penny for a youth in a problem.

These icons are my most influential youths in Obuasi, who are touching lives and youths with their iniatives. The media in our part of the Region, at times don’t recognize them but to me, they are my unsung heroes.

Emmanuel Agyemfra Boateng.....0249542342/0508609109