Fatimah Amoadu launches Foundation; Graduates 55 Artisans from Ekumfi.

The Deputy Managing Director of the Cocoa Processing Company, Fatimah Amoadu, has officially launched her foundation, the Obaapa Fatimah Amoadu Foundation (OFAF), with a graduation ceremony for 55 artisans from its maiden skills training programme.

The ceremony was held at Mankessim in the Central Region on Saturday, December 27, 2025, under the theme “The Future Is Handmaking.” The event highlighted the importance of craftsmanship, vocational education, and hands-on skills in promoting sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment.

The programme attracted a distinguished gathering of traditional authorities, political leaders, Christian clergy, and representatives of Islamic missions, reflecting broad-based support for skills development as a tool for community transformation.

Speaking at the event, the Founder of the Foundation and Deputy Managing Director of the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC), Fatimah Amoadu, said OFAF was established in Accra about ten years ago but later relocated its operations to the Ekumfi Traditional Area to directly support her people.

“This foundation started in Accra about ten years ago, but it was important to bring it home to Ekumfi to support my own people and help them build sustainable livelihoods,” she said.

A native of Ekumfi Immuna and Srafa, Fatimah Amoadu explained that her decision to return home was driven by a desire to empower young people, particularly girls, through sustainable skills training rather than short-term support.

“Our focus has always been on teaching young girls how to fish rather than giving them fish. When you equip someone with a skill, you give them dignity, independence, and a future,” she added.

She disclosed that 100 girls from Ekumfi were enrolled in an artisanal training programme four years ago, out of which 55 have successfully graduated, while the remaining trainees are still undergoing training.

The girls were trained in hairdressing, fashion design, and baking, equipping them with employable skills to earn sustainable livelihoods.

To support the graduates in starting their respective vocations, Fatimah Amoadu presented them with sewing machines, hair dryers, gas ovens, and other start-up items.

The Paramount Queen Mother of the Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Benyiwa VI, commended Obaapa Fatimah Amoadu for the initiative and her investment in human capital development.

“What our daughter has done is wonderful. We ask for God’s blessings upon her life so that whatever she touches will prosper,” she said.

Nana Benyiwa VI urged the graduates to make good use of the opportunity and apply the skills they had acquired to make a positive impact on society.

“To the graduates, what you have received is a great opportunity. Do not sit on it. Use it to work so that others will also benefit from you,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Ekumfi Srafa and Sumankwahen of the Ekumfi Traditional Area, Nana Nyeiku VII, appealed for boys to be considered in future programmes.

“When you look at the beneficiaries, the selection is not fairly balanced. There is no boy among them. If possible, boys should be considered in subsequent programmes,” he appealed.

Representing the Central Regional Coordinator for the Apprenticeship Programme, the Deputy Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kojo Gyamfi, described the OFAF training initiative as being in line with the vision of the Mahama-led government, which seeks to train between one million and five million youths nationwide across various skill sets.

“Youth unemployment can only be tackled when skills development is prioritised, and initiatives like this play a critical role in complementing government efforts. What Obaapa Fatimah is doing perfectly aligns with the government’s vision to train over one million youths,” he said.

He called on individuals with the means to replicate the efforts of Obaapa Fatimah Amoadu in their respective communities, noting that private initiatives remain crucial in complementing government programmes aimed at youth empowerment.

The launch and graduation ceremony marked a major milestone in the work of the Obaapa Fatimah Amoadu Foundation, reinforcing the role of vocational skills and community-driven initiatives in tackling youth unemployment. With plans to expand its training programmes, the Foundation is expected to continue empowering more young people in Ekumfi and other parts of the Central Region through practical skills development and entrepreneurship.