U.S. Embassy announces 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship recipients
The U.S. Embassy in Accra has announced the selection of 32 outstanding young Ghanaian leaders for the prestigious 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF). This year’s cohort is notable for its diversity, with a significant number of fellows hailing from the Northern region of Ghana.
Fellows’ Background and Focus Areas
The 32 fellows came from a wide range of fields, including:
– Health
– Climate Change
– Gender-Based Violence and Child Labor
– Agricultural Sector and STEM
– Business Sector
The Mandela Washington Fellowship Program
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship programme of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), a signature effort by the U.S. government to invest in the next generation of African leaders. The programme empowers young African leaders through:
– Academic Coursework
– Leadership Training
– Mentoring
– Networking
– Professional Opportunities
– Local Community Engagement
Programme Partners and Funding
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by IREX. The program is designed and managed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).
Tenth Anniversary and U.S.-Ghana Partnership
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Mandela Washington Fellowship. U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia E. Palmer emphasized the importance of investing in Ghana’s and Africa’s youth, citing the continent’s growing population and potential for future growth. The fellowship program is a key aspect of the U.S.-Ghana partnership, which extends beyond government to include civil society, NGOs, the private sector, and citizens.
Ambassador Palmer’s Remarks
“I want to emphasize the reason behind the U.S. investment in Ghana’s – and Africa’s youth. Sub-Saharan Africa is a major force for the future, and in the next couple of years, virtually half the population will be under the age of 25, and by 2050, one of four people on this planet will be from Africa. The role of people-to-people exchanges is an important part of the rich and historical U.S.-Ghana partnership. Our partnership extends well beyond government, to include civil society and NGOs, the private sector, and citizens more broadly.”
