• The anonymous donor who matched $10,000 raised at the event
• The African American Business Resource Group at PGE and EAI Information Systems for sponsoring the event
• The table sponsors:  Donna Dorsey, EAI Information Systems, Geffen Mesher and Company, P.C., Lane Powell Attorneys and Counselors, Dr. Kofi Nelson-Owusu
• Patience Sewor, Beatrice Nkansah and Elsie Agyepong for the wonderful Ghanaian menu
• Dr. Candice Goucher and The Kúkátónón Children’s African Dance Troupe
•  The volunteers who made this event a success:  Lindsey Pilling and Sarah Storer and The African American Business Resource Group at PGE and to all who generously donated auction items!
• Each individual who attended the Celebration Dinner

Thank you all!!

FEATURING

Keynote: Dr. Candice Goucher, Professor of History at WSU

Intergenerational Thinking:  Ghana’s Promise of Education for a Sustainable Future

Music and Dancing:

Kukatonon Children’s African Dance Troupe &

Chata Addy

Date & Time: Saturday, February 4th, 2012 6:00 pm

$50 Individual Tickets, $500 Table Sponsor

Location:

World Trade Center

121 SW Salmon St. Portland, OR  97204

RSVP: info@napefoundation.org or 503-348-4912

Thank You!

By

Peter Carlos Okantey

NAPE Foundation

Founder & President

Abstract

This article seeks to encourage a culture of innovation and creativity among Ghanaian and African business leaders and their organizations. This rationale is pursued through the following: 1) a presentation of the need for innovation and creativity among Ghanaian and African leaders and their organizations; 2) a redefinition of the terms “innovation and creativity” in organizations; 3) perceived barriers to innovation and creativity among Ghanaian and African Leaders and businesses; 4) a candid view of how Ghanaian and African leaders can promote innovation and creativity within their organizations; and 5) five practical steps towards developing a culture of innovation and creativity among Ghanaian leaders and their organizations.

Keywords: Organizational Leadership, Creativity, Innovation, Organizations, Businesses, Africa, Ghana.

Encouraging Creativity and Innovation Among Ghanaian and African Leaders and Organizations

21^st Century in Africa

By

Peter Carlos Okantey

November, 2011 

Abstract

This article seeks to promote a culture of innovation in African universities. This justification is pursued through the following: 1) an argument for the need for innovation in African universities; 2) a look at the term “innovation” from an institutional perspective; 3) apparent barriers to innovation in African universities; 4) on how African university leaders can promote innovation at their universities; and 5) eight steps African university leaders can adopt in their quest to enhance innovation in their universities.

Keywords: Africa, African Universities, Innovation, Creativity, Leadership.

The Role of Innovation in Building Universities that will Outlive the 21st Century in Africa

June, 2011

Abstract

Africa is home to 54 countries with over 700 million people, yet there are fewer than 300 universities and colleges across the continent. This paper critically examines the current condition of higher education in Africa and proposes redirecting investments in Africa to higher education for to develop leaders across the continent for social, economic and political freedom. By building an argument that the very machinery for the development of human capital has been neglected in Africa, this paper focuses on the following: the current condition of higher education in Africa, the lack of access to higher education in Africa, higher education and leadership development in Africa, and the way forward to promote higher education in Africa.

Keywords: Leadership, Africa, Ghana, higher education, leadership development.

The Neglected Factor- Re-directing Investments to Higher Education in Africa for Leadership Development

When: May 26th, 2011. 8:30 AM Shotgun Start

Where: Heron Lakes Golf Club. 3500 N. Victory Blvd. Portland, OR 97217

3rd Year NAPE Foundation Scholarship Recipient

Age: 22

Program of study: Business Administration, Ashesi University

Testimony: The NAPE Foundation Scholarship has been of great benefit to my family and me over the years. I am very excited that in my final year, I have been privileged to be a beneficiary of the award again. This is a great motivation to me to continue to aspire to greater heights and also be a source of inspiration to many other people.

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Anthony Mensah-Kumah

2nd Year NAPE Foundation Scholarship Recipient

Age: 21

Program of study: Management Information Systems Information Technology / Entrepreneurship, Ashesi University

Testimony: The NAPE Foundation Scholarship has been very helpful in relieving the financial burden of educational expenses. With my ability to live on campus, I now have more access to resources in school. I also have more time on my hands to focus on academic work with the reduced  travel time commuting to and from school. Thanks to the benevolence of the NAPE Foundation, I expect to perform better academically in my final year of University.

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Emmanuel Gyane

2nd Year NAPE Foundation Scholarship Recipient

Age: 24

Program of Study: Computer Science, Ashesi University

Testimonial: I would like to use this medium to express my gratitude to NAPE Foundation for once again granting me this scholarship. I am grateful and humbled by this opportunity especially at this moment in my education. This will help reduce the financial burden on my family and also help me in achieving my goals and aspirations. I must say that this scholarship has indeed come at an opportune moment in my life to urge me on in my academic endeavor as a source of hope and motivation. I believe and know this will serve as a drive for me to double the efforts I have been putting into my academic work and performance as well as enable me to encourage my colleagues to also strive for greater heights in their respective areas of study. I am enthused and stirred by this scholarship and once again, would like to express my profound gratitude to NAPE Foundation, the scholarship committee and everyone who has contributed in making this possible. I pledge to continue with the hard work and go beyond what I have been able to accomplish over the years.

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Josephina Naa Lamiokor Lamptey

2nd Year NAPE Foundation Scholarship Recipient.

Age: 22

Program of study: Business Administration, Ashesi University

Testimonial: I believe an unplanned life is not worth living. Due to this, I would gracefully graduate with a degree in Business Administration from Ashesi University next year. Upon my graduation, I plan to fulfill my national obligation by doing my national service. My national service is expected to last for a period of one year. As soon as I complete my National Service, my goal is to work in an accounting firm for at least three years. This is to enable me put my theoretical knowledge to practice. I am certain that the knowledge and skills acquired from my education and national service would go a long way in contribute to societal development. Also, in my pursuit of a career in accountancy; I would commence the process of writing my profession ACCA exams. This means that after passing the ACCA examination successfully and in addition to my three years work experience, I will be a Chartered accountant. As a returning student, I enthusiastically express my heartfelt gratitude for the honor of being awarded your highly esteemed Lee Nusich Scholarship. The award is VERY TIMELY for my undergraduate studies. I am extremely humbled and grateful for the confidence Mr. Okantey and the entire NAPE Foundation team has put in me. Please extend my appreciation to all donors, supporters, volunteers and the Board of NAPE Foundation.

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Lois Naa Lamiley Akoto-Lamptey

2nd Year NAPE Foundation Scholarship Recipient.

Age: 21

Program of Study: Management Information Systems (MIS), Ashesi University

Testimonial: I thank NAPE Foundation for granting me a scholarship again. With this scholarship I will continue to receive good quality education from Ashesi University College and go on to earn an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems. A liberal arts method of education blended with major courses at Ashesi University College with its three core pillars of scholarship, leadership and citizenship affords the greatest opportunities for me to realize my educational aspirations and goals.

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Mohammed Teeko Lukman

3rd Year NAPE Foundation Scholarship Recipient
Age: 22

Program of study: Business Administration

Testimonial: I aspire to be a Chartered Accountant and an accomplished Business Consultant. I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to NAPE Foundation for awarding me this scholarship again. Thank you for reviving my dreams and giving me hope. I applied for the scholarship knowing it is my last resort, without it I definitely would have had to withdraw from school. However with this scholarship, I now know I would be able to complete my studies at Ashesi University. Certainly, a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration would open the door for me to pursue my educational goals of doing a MBA and ACCA in the near future. I am deeply grateful.

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Samuel Obeng

3rd Year NAPE Foundation Scholarship Recipient Age: 23

Program of Study: Computer Science, Ashesi University

Testimonial: I am very much grateful for NAPE Foundation’s tremendous support for my education. I live far away from my college and my family could not afford to put me in college housing. I used to spend a great amount of my academic time traveling to and from my campus. I used to get tired, get to class so late, and worst of all, could not finish my assignments on time. Thankfully NAPE Foundation awarded me a housing scholarship and that has changed my academic life. I get enough time for my academic work and that has resulted in a wonderful academic performance within the last two years. I have been awarded a NAPE Foundation scholarship for two years and I affirm that it has made my education so refreshing. May God bless the entire NAPE Foundation team.

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Stephen Ganu

3rd Year NAPE Foundation Scholarship Recipient

Program of Study: Information Technology, Valley View University

Testimonial: I would like to express my deepest gratitude to NAPE Foundation, and the Selection Committee for selecting me as one of 2010 recipients of the NAPE Foundation’s scholarship. This scholarship will reduce my financial burden and also enable me to successfully complete this semester. I will always remain grateful to you for all the help you have given to me.

Vincent Agyemang Boakye

Vincent Agyemang Boakye is currently a final year student in Nafana Presbyterian Senior High School studying General Arts. Academically, Vincent has consistently performed well above average since he enrolled in 2007. He has the potential to develop his talents, as he is focused and committed to his academic work. Vincent and his family are members of the Catholic Church. Both parents area subsistence farmers. There are six other siblings in the family. Each child is in school except for the eldest who is a plumbing apprentice. The family budget is burdened with six other siblings in school and in vocation training. Vincent has access to very little resources to facilitate his education. He actually needs some financial assistance to fund his educational activities.

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Frederick  Yebaoh

Frederick Yeboah is a fourth year General Arts student at Nafana Presbyterian Senior High School. His academic performance is good, is well organized and hardworking. His father is a farmer and his mother is a vegetable trader. There are eight children in the family and Yeboah is the fifth born. Two of his brothers work with a private cashew buying company as messengers. Yeboah Frederick has difficulty paying his tuition since there are other children going to school and the family income is meager. He has the potential to excel if his educational needs are adequately met.

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Mavis Donkor

Mavis Donkor is a student in Nafana Presbyterian Senior High School. She studies General Arts and is currently in her final year. Mavis has promising student and has maintained a commendable track record of performance over the years. Her parents are cocoa farmers. The family has six children all of whom are in various levels of schooling. With support, she can avoid missing school because of unpaid tuition and can serve as a role model to young girls, to become serious in their studies.

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Veronica Yeabaoh Badu

Veronica Yeboah Badu is in his final year at Nafana Presbyterian Senior High School. She is studying General Arts. She is among one of the best  students in her class and has excellent leadership qualities. Badu lost both parents when she was quite young. She has been living with her elder sister, who is married and has six children. Her sister’s family are subsistence farmers and traders. Badu Yeboah has experienced many financial difficulties. She has difficulties in paying her tuition, but is a great student.

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Lucy Yeli Abena

Yeli Abena Lucy is a General Arts student in her final year at the West African Senior High School. Her academic performance over the years has been well above average. She is a good student. Yeli’s parents are farmers and her family consists of nine children, all of whom are in school. Resources are limited and Yeli often misses class because she has not paid her tuition.

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Faustina Akanbong

My name is Akanbong Faustina.  I was born in 1992. I come from Fumbisi in the Upper Eastern Region of Ghana. I am the oldest of four children of my parents.  My father is deceased and was a farmer and my mother is a petty trader. My mother struggles to make ends meet and meeting our educational needs is impossible.  I am currently a second year student in high school. I would like to be a journalist in future. I like music and reading novels. This scholarship is going to offer a great deal of help to me and will help my mother cater to the needs of my younger siblings.  This scholarship will empower me to assist myself, my younger siblings, and other community members to achieve their dreams and goals and bring about development.