My Greatest Ghanaians of our time - Millenial Starting Eleven
After working on a Generation X list of greatest Ghanaians, I had to look at the millenials, like me. I like emails and texts :-) Here is the Millenial list - 1981-1996 DOBs. According to AI :-) Positive characteristics of millenials include: being technologically savvy, well-educated, collaborative, optimistic, socially conscious, adaptable, curious, and value-driven, with a strong focus on work-life balance and a desire for meaningful work; they are also often seen as being comfortable with technology, open to new ideas, and good communicators. In this list, I am picking people I have actually met, spent time with and can vouch for their greatness any day.
Gary Al-Smith
When I started to know about Gary in 2012 ish, he was making a name for himself on social media. I was impressed by this Odadee's Twitter following, amongst other things. He became a Global Shaper like me and Aisha. And then he went to Citi FM, innovated there and then has been at the Multimedia Group for some time. When I see his pieces in international magazines or his face in international sports shows, it makes me really happy. He has been adjudged the Journalist Of The Year at the SWAG Awards. He cares a lot about Ghana like me and has been a great advocate in his recent years. I know he would continue to angle for the right things to be done.
Watchudoin?
Watch this video interview with Coca-Cola Ghana.
Regina Honu
Regina is a trailblazer for #WomenInSTEM in Ghana and beyond. I remember when she was at Barcamp Cape Coast and then Barcamp Ho in 2012, she was on her way up. Now she is thriving with Soronko Academy after Soronko Solutions and TechNeedsGirls. The likes of Sheryl Sandberg wrote about her o! Recently, she shared some thoughts in the #GDIW2024 XSpace I moderated. Learn more about her through this 23.3 questions interview.
She went to Holyco, see this interview.
Sangu Delle
Sangu is very well accomplished for his age. He has like 3 TEDx videos. But his accomplishment that I love the most is his work with Golden Palm Investments. Through this, they have funded mPharma, Andela, Flutterwave, etc. He has also done great work with CarePoint, CleanAcwa, etc. He has mentored at a couple of Barcamps as well. M.Anifest has interviewed him before alongside Curtis Vanderpuije and Kokui Selormey o! He wrote a great book you should absolutely read -
Watch him talk more about transformation via entrepreneurs - Africa's Renaissance: How Young Entrepreneurs Are Transforming the Continent
Latif Abubakar
He is my Presec mate from 2001. Along with Uncle Ebo Whyte, etc, Latif Abubakar has made theatre a thing in Ghana, thriving as a playwright. He has consistently delivered good work, pushing the arts and helping popularize lots of actors. His Globe Productions has staged these productions and also organized several awards shows honoring Ghanaians who are thriving in their sectors and spaces. He has also mentored at Barcamps before.
Watch this showbiz related video
Blitz Bazawule
Do you remember Bazaar who dropped those hot bars on Obrafour's Who Born You By Mistake? He eventually became known as Blitz. I started meeting him when he was touring college campuses and hitting smaller shows in the US performing his music, circa 2004. By 2019, he had built his career his way, and started thriving in his own time, on his own terms. I was surprised by that but that is the vim Blitz has. He has worked with Beyonce, Oprah and released major works of art like the Burial Of Kojo, etc. He was interviewed by Trevor Noah & things.
Watch him interviewed by KSM (TGIF).
Ameyaw Debrah
When I was selected as a digital influencer alongside Ameyaw Debrah by NESCAFE in 2015, I knew I was doing something right. I remember when he started blogging - before 2009, he did all of that in spite of all the internet challenges in Ghana. He used to run the Jaded Renegade. You can check out his Youtube channel for a wide variety of interviews, and videos, especially about Ghanaian entertainment. He's a great citizen journalist who reports about different events and happenings in Ghana.
He has been to multiple Barcamps as well. Recently, it was an honour to have him give the keynote speech at the GROW 2024 event by Generation Ghana.
Watch this Upside Down interview with him.
Bright Simons
I went to Presec with Bright, he was my senior by 2 years. As an SRC executive, he defended and helped lots of Presecan ninos/form ones/juniors with our rights. He has proven to be a genius since Presec, well-sought after, well-read and influential. You have to read his pieces on his website and follow him on social media. He calls me Mantse but he is so hard to pin down and find. In 2011, I was honoured as one of 3 Ghanaians under 40 who had contributed greatly to Ghana. The fact that Bright Simons and Farida Bedwei were the other 2, made me feel great about this Legacy & Legacy IDEAs awards.
Watch this TED video where he says: "To help solve global problems, look to developing countries "
Aisha Ayensu
Aisha Ayensu (nee Obuobi) is a top fashion designer in Ghana. She has been to a Barcamp. Beyonce has worn her stuff. Mic drop.
Watch this recent interview
Ibrahim Mahama
I had the honour of interviewing Ibrahim Mahama on the #KonnectKouch at Barcamp Tamale 2023. I really admired him before that and had a renewed respect after our conversation. I love how he wants to make things happen in spite of the government - which is what I want to see many great Ghanaians do. He has turned Red Clay Studios, SCCA Tamale and Nkrumah Volini into historic, cultural and tourist sites. You must visit these in Tamale. He's been interviewed by Bernard Avle, but watch Lexis Bill interview him.
Gary Al-Smith
When I started to know about Gary in 2012 ish, he was making a name for himself on social media. I was impressed by this Odadee's Twitter following, amongst other things. He became a Global Shaper like me and Aisha. And then he went to Citi FM, innovated there and then has been at the Multimedia Group for some time. When I see his pieces in international magazines or his face in international sports shows, it makes me really happy. He has been adjudged the Journalist Of The Year at the SWAG Awards. He cares a lot about Ghana like me and has been a great advocate in his recent years. I know he would continue to angle for the right things to be done.
Watchudoin?
Watch this video interview with Coca-Cola Ghana.
Regina Honu
Regina is a trailblazer for #WomenInSTEM in Ghana and beyond. I remember when she was at Barcamp Cape Coast and then Barcamp Ho in 2012, she was on her way up. Now she is thriving with Soronko Academy after Soronko Solutions and TechNeedsGirls. The likes of Sheryl Sandberg wrote about her o! Recently, she shared some thoughts in the #GDIW2024 XSpace I moderated. Learn more about her through this 23.3 questions interview.
She went to Holyco, see this interview.
Gregory Rockson
I first met Gregory after I had returned to Ghana in 2011. He was a Global Shaper in another country and keen to build successful businesses in Ghana and beyond. I remember when he told me how he was having trouble growing his mPharma business in Ghana, and and he was making more progress in Zambia. I have not seen our Ghanaian governments do the requisite things for our startups to thrive so I understood him. He mentored at Barcamp Tema 2013. Eventually, he and his team set up in Ghana and within the space of a few years, they had raised 40 million dollars in investment. Do you know how hard that is to do in this our cultural neighbourhood? I am excited when I see Mutti pharmacies around Ghana.
Watch him talk about "Digital transformation in emerging markets".
I first met Gregory after I had returned to Ghana in 2011. He was a Global Shaper in another country and keen to build successful businesses in Ghana and beyond. I remember when he told me how he was having trouble growing his mPharma business in Ghana, and and he was making more progress in Zambia. I have not seen our Ghanaian governments do the requisite things for our startups to thrive so I understood him. He mentored at Barcamp Tema 2013. Eventually, he and his team set up in Ghana and within the space of a few years, they had raised 40 million dollars in investment. Do you know how hard that is to do in this our cultural neighbourhood? I am excited when I see Mutti pharmacies around Ghana.
Watch him talk about "Digital transformation in emerging markets".
Sangu Delle
Sangu is very well accomplished for his age. He has like 3 TEDx videos. But his accomplishment that I love the most is his work with Golden Palm Investments. Through this, they have funded mPharma, Andela, Flutterwave, etc. He has also done great work with CarePoint, CleanAcwa, etc. He has mentored at a couple of Barcamps as well. M.Anifest has interviewed him before alongside Curtis Vanderpuije and Kokui Selormey o! He wrote a great book you should absolutely read -
Watch him talk more about transformation via entrepreneurs - Africa's Renaissance: How Young Entrepreneurs Are Transforming the Continent
He is my Presec mate from 2001. Along with Uncle Ebo Whyte, etc, Latif Abubakar has made theatre a thing in Ghana, thriving as a playwright. He has consistently delivered good work, pushing the arts and helping popularize lots of actors. His Globe Productions has staged these productions and also organized several awards shows honoring Ghanaians who are thriving in their sectors and spaces. He has also mentored at Barcamps before.
Watch this showbiz related video
Do you remember Bazaar who dropped those hot bars on Obrafour's Who Born You By Mistake? He eventually became known as Blitz. I started meeting him when he was touring college campuses and hitting smaller shows in the US performing his music, circa 2004. By 2019, he had built his career his way, and started thriving in his own time, on his own terms. I was surprised by that but that is the vim Blitz has. He has worked with Beyonce, Oprah and released major works of art like the Burial Of Kojo, etc. He was interviewed by Trevor Noah & things.
Watch him interviewed by KSM (TGIF).
Nicole Amarteifio
I got to know Nicole during my MIT years while she was at student at Brandeis. Fellow Ghanaians in the Boston area. She worked at the World Bank for a while and really helped improve their social media engagement. She has also been to Barcamps and helped support us through the World Bank.Her claim to fame is more so the An African City series, seen as an African Sex In The City version. This was a groundbreaking series, showing the lives of cosmopolitan young Ghanaians, their relationships, while celebrating lots of great Ghanaian brands.
I got to know Nicole during my MIT years while she was at student at Brandeis. Fellow Ghanaians in the Boston area. She worked at the World Bank for a while and really helped improve their social media engagement. She has also been to Barcamps and helped support us through the World Bank.Her claim to fame is more so the An African City series, seen as an African Sex In The City version. This was a groundbreaking series, showing the lives of cosmopolitan young Ghanaians, their relationships, while celebrating lots of great Ghanaian brands.
Watch her talk about "A filmmaker’s vision to rewrite the narrative of Africa"
Ameyaw Debrah
When I was selected as a digital influencer alongside Ameyaw Debrah by NESCAFE in 2015, I knew I was doing something right. I remember when he started blogging - before 2009, he did all of that in spite of all the internet challenges in Ghana. He used to run the Jaded Renegade. You can check out his Youtube channel for a wide variety of interviews, and videos, especially about Ghanaian entertainment. He's a great citizen journalist who reports about different events and happenings in Ghana.
He has been to multiple Barcamps as well. Recently, it was an honour to have him give the keynote speech at the GROW 2024 event by Generation Ghana.
Watch this Upside Down interview with him.
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