Sixteen African leaders honoured at 2025 MTN Pulse Africa role model awards in Kumasi
Sixteen distinguished personalities have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to leadership, innovation, governance, business, academia, and youth empowerment at the 16th edition of the MTN Pulse Africa Role Model Awards and Transform Summit, organised by the Young Professionals and Youth Coalition (YPYC) in Kumasi.
The awards, led by YPYC President Dr Andrews Osei Okrah, honoured individuals whose work continues to inspire a new generation of African leaders. Among the top honourees were Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene, who received the Young Achiever Role Model in Leadership and Innovation Award, and Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu, Chairman of the University Council at KNUST, who was presented with the Africa Role Model Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr Amoakohene was recognised for his transformative initiatives in governance, particularly in healthcare, education, and infrastructure. “Leadership must reimagine technology in a broader spectrum,” he said, urging leaders to embrace digital innovation to stay relevant and drive meaningful change. He expressed gratitude to Dr Andy Osei Okrah and the YPYC team, noting that “YPYC continues to be a beacon of transformation, nurturing young minds and championing entrepreneurship across Africa.”
Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu was honoured for his dedication to societal progress and youth empowerment, with a strong emphasis on inclusive governance and advancing science and technology through his role at KNUST.
The summit, themed “Reimagining Leadership and Technology in a Digital World,” featured a high-level panel discussion focused on empowering youth for leadership in an increasingly digital and interconnected era. Panellists called for increased access to digital skills training, mentorship, and entrepreneurial support, and stressed the need for government, private sector, and educational institutions to collaborate in creating an ecosystem where young Africans can drive innovation in sectors such as agriculture, technology, and the creative economy.
“Young people are not just the future; they are the present. If we fail to empower them with the right tools, we limit Africa’s potential to lead in the global digital economy,” one panellist stated, underscoring the urgency of youth-centred policies that prioritise innovation and inclusion.
Other award recipients included Ms Abena Osei-Poku, Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, as Overall Female Africa Role Model; Dr Michael Kwame Obeng, Plastic Surgeon, as Overall Male Africa Role Model; and Hon Patrick Boamah, MP for Okaikwei Central, as Africa Role Model in Politics and Governance. The list also featured notable names from business, academia, media, religion, tourism, agriculture, and philanthropy.
The event, chaired by Oheneba Owusu Afriyie IV, Otumfuo’s Apagyahene, attracted over 500 participants, including students, CEOs, entrepreneurs, health professionals, researchers, and high-profile dignitaries.
Founded in 2009, the Africa Role Model Awards aim to go beyond recognition, serving as a rallying point for integrity, innovation, and inclusive development across the continent. The 2025 edition reaffirmed YPYC’s commitment to spotlighting excellence and fostering a new wave of leadership in Africa.
