The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Empowering Better Life Foundation (EBLF), Alma Adade-Prempeh, has stressed the importance of character development among young people as a foundation for navigating real-world responsibilities.
She said traits such as honesty, fairness, compassion, and respect were essential for nurturing effective and ethical leadership.
Mrs Adade-Prempeh made these remarks at the launch of the Financial Literacy and Ethical Leadership Programme organised by the Empowering Better Life Foundation, a non-governmental organisation at Papaase near Kasoa, last Wednesday.
"Don't focus on just academic growth, but on building ethical leaders. Leadership is not about the title one holds but the actions, which are being honest, humble, responsible, and fair. Leadership is about service, not status,” she said.
The event aimed to develop leadership skills through practical learning in areas such as leadership, financial management and menstrual hygiene.
It was also meant to offer students with real-world responsibilities in managing resources, particularly around menstrual hygiene products for girls.
She said the programme was designed to identify and support student leaders to operate under the supervision of a school-appointed patron with regular support and monitoring from EBLF.
She said students who were interested in the club were to write proposals explaining why they wished to join, which would encourage thoughtfulness, responsibility, and a sense of purpose.
"You will not just join by showing up. You have to earn it," she said.
Leadership
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mrs Adade-Prempeh shared the organisation’s vision for the initiative: “We want our children to learn the importance of saving, budgeting, and managing money from an early age. Nothing comes for free in life; you must work for it.”
She highlighted that the club was not focused on just academic growth but on building ethical leaders.
“Leadership is not about the title one holds but the actions which are being honest, humble, responsible, and fair. Leadership is about service, not status,” she said.
The initiative took a deeper turn with the inclusion of menstrual hygiene support.
She pledged the EBLF's commitment to donate two boxes of sanitary pads monthly to the club to ensure no girl missed classes due to unforeseen circumstances.
However, she said, students would be encouraged to donate small amounts when receiving pads to support the club’s sustainability.
“This isn’t a sale,” she said. “Whatever you give is a donation to help keep the club running.
It’s about creating a system that sustains itself while teaching the girls dignity, responsibility, and money management,” she said.
Challenges
The CEO acknowledged funding as a major challenge.
“There is a lot we want to do.
We see requests such as classroom support, but these go beyond our immediate capacity.
However, we advocate through government agencies to get support where we can,” she said.
She said the organisation was guided by four core pillars: mental health awareness, support for children with special needs, menstrual hygiene for girls, financial literacy and ethical leadership.
“Our goal is to create a society where inclusion, education and leadership lead the way.
When children grow with these values, we can build a better future,” she added.
