The John Agyekum Kufuor (JAK) Foundation has launched a fundraising campaign to raise GH¢80million as seed capital for the establishment of an endowment fund to sustain the foundation’s governance and socio-economic development works.
Funds raised from the campaign will be used to run foundation’s programmes – including the Kufuor Scholars Programme, Kufuor Young Entrepreneurs Network, Annual Lecture Series on Governance and Development, the Kufuor Elections Observers Group, and the Kufuor Prize for Best Community Leadership.
The year-long fundraising campaign on the theme ‘80 for 80’ has been launched to coincide with the 80th birthday of former president John Agyekum Kufour, who shares the vision of peaceful, well-governed and economically sustainable societies across Africa.
Activities of the fundraising campaign will include a fundraising dinner and gala night, to be coordinated by Madam Claudia Lumor; a celebrity walk to be coordinated by Bola Ray; a musical concert to be coordinated by Okyeame Kwame; and soccer to be coordinated by Stephen Appiah and Kwesi Appiah, as well as a non-denominational thanksgiving service.
Chief Executive Officer of JAK Foundation, Prof. Baffuor Agyeman Duah, indicated at the launch event in Accra that the capital campaign will support the foundation’s work.
“US$10million will be invested under an Endowment Fund, and returns on the investment are going to be used for running the Foundation’s programmes,” he said.
The Founder of Salt and Light Ministries, Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee-who launched the campaign, said the fundraising campaign is timely – as mentored-leadership is critical for the country and African continent as a whole.
“The launch of this campaign will help address governance issues as well as support growth of the people, especially the youth – thus sustaining the Kufuor Foundation’s ideals,” she said.
Former president John A. Kufuor, in his remarks, said governance is important to ensuring inclusiveness – adding that good leaders help to achieve this.
He said the absence of effective leadership has resulted in ignorance, diseases and poverty in Africa, adding: “Leadership doesn’t happen by chance but through nurturing”.
