A foundation to create an efficient, effective, and sustainable vehicle of support to transform the lives of the youth in needy communities across the country was over the weekend launched in Accra.
Christened the “Andy Amuna Foundation,” it was built out of the principles and values of a late young engineer, Andrew MbabillaAmuna.
Prior to his demise in July, last year, he strongly influenced individuals to embark on initiatives to partially alleviate the pains of the destitute in some communities in the country.
Alongside the launch was the swearing in of a nine-member board for the foundation. Chaired by a former diplomat, William Awinador-Kanyirige. It has Mr William Amuna, Dr Andrew Akola, Prof. Mark Adom-Asamoah and Mrs Gina Odoi as members.
Other members include Mrs Monica Senanu, Mr Alex Asinura, Mr Israel Laryea and Mr Ben Asante.
Mr William Amuna, father of the late engineer said Andy’s love for others, his selflessness and his desire to uplift others were as inseparable from his personality as the perpetual smile he wore.
He noted that one legacy of Andy’s humanity was the 80-bed capacity Robert and Cecelia Amuna Children’s Ward in the Bongo District Hospital in the Upper East Region, as before that ward was built, children and older women were cramped into the dilapidated 40-bed capacity female ward of the hospital.
Although they were still grieving and pained by his demise, Mr Amuna said they believed the best way to honour Andy’s memory was to continue his legacy.
“That is why the Andy Amuna Foundation promises to uplift hundreds and touch thousands of young lives,” he added.
Mr Amuna said that the family did not touch the donation that was given during Andy’s funeral and that it was used as seed money for the foundation.
The board secretary of the Andy Amuna Foundation, Mrs Senanu, said opportunities would be opened to all Ghanaian children, but emphasis would be put on the sciences.
She said that the foundation would also augment the infrastructural challenges in the education sector in the country.
“One of the maiden steps will be the construction of a model basic school in Andy’s deprived home community of Dua in the Bongo District. That school will have a well-equipped library, ICT centre and all the facilities needed to enhance teaching and learning,” Mrs Senanu said in a video.
Chairman of the Board, Mr Awinador-Kanyirige, assured all of the board’s unflinching resolve in ensuring the actualisation of the foundation’s aims.
The late Andy as was affectionately called, worked as an associate engineer at Scheweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) in US from May 2020 to July 2021 when he exited the unpredictable stage called life, without the faintest hint.
BY ABIGAIL ARTHUR
