Nana Safoa honoured in London
Ghana’s rich culture was on full display when the Osomanyawa, queenmother of the Akwamu Traditional Area and queenmother of Akwamufie, Ohemaa Nana Yaa Asaa Safoa II, received an honorary global exemplary award for Ingenuity 2015 — Philanthropy and Cultural Enrichment — at a ceremony in London, UK.
Nana Safoa, dressed elegantly in rich kente-oke, together with her entourage, was the centre of attraction at the awards ceremony as, for more than 30 minutes and throughout the event, official photographers and guests took turns to take photographs of her and with her.
The ceremony climaxed the fifth bi-annual international European Women Inventors, Innovators Network (EU-WIIN) exhibition, conference and awards in London.
Women inventors celebrated
The event was to celebrate women inventors and innovators, as well as build capacity for the introduction of new products, processes and services, with a special focus on women.
Nana Safoa is credited as the inventor of the fabric, kente-oke. kente-oke is a blend of the Ghanaian kente and the Nigerian aso-oke which has been given a modern look, is sophisticated and softer.
“I am humbled by this award. More importantly, this has challenged me to scout for more Ghanaian innovators and inventors and bring them to the limelight,” she said.
As her contribution to women empowerment, Nana Safoa nominated three Ghanaian innovators — Mrs Roselove Frempong, Ms Trudy Sakyibea Amoako and Ms Fulera Seidu — to exhibit their products at the conference.
It paid off, as Mrs Frempong, who has formulated a herbal-based ointment and solution known as Asmisol for dressing and cleaning sores and wounds resulting from diabetes and sickle cell, received a Gold award for her innovation.
Awards
Ms Amoako was also recognised for her preparation of what can be termed Ghana’s version of the Irish Cream. Using tiger nuts, she has developed an alcoholic beverage flavoured with local fruits or coffee. Her product is known as Santa Roi and tastes like Bailey’s, an alcoholic beverage.
Among Nana Safoa’s entourage were Naa Adoley Ablade I, a queenmother of the Ga Traditional Area, Sempe Division; Lady Janet Boateng, the wife of Lord Paul Boateng; Mrs Stella Appenteng, the Managing Director of Apstar Tours; Nana Samanhyia Darko II, the Gyasewahene of the Akwamu Traditional Area, and Nana Kwasi Okona IV, the Twidanhene of Osomanya Akwamu.
Other honorary awardees were Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, the Founder and Chairman of the Arab International Women’s Forum; Dr Hala Jamal, President, Riffa Cultural Society, Bahrain; Gabriella Somerville, private jets entrepreneur and Managing Director, Connect Jets; Romanna Bint-Abubakar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Haute Julia Barfield, design and creative entrepreneur, London Eye and i360 Brighton, and Gillian Humphreys, the Founder of Concordia Foundation.