The 3rd edition of the JoyNews Impact Makers Awards, held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Ecobank Head Office in Accra, successfully celebrated 10 extraordinary Ghanaians for their profound contributions across various critical fields. This prestigious event, a brainchild of JoyNews and a subsidiary of the Multimedia Group, aims to identify and honour individuals whose impactful efforts often go unseen, demonstrating the power of local actions in shaping national progress. Raymond Senyo Amezado was notably recognized as the overall winner for his outstanding work in social impact and nonprofit development. The awards specifically highlight individuals transforming communities through initiatives in health, education, science, social justice, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH).

Mr. Fiifi Koomson, the General Manager for Joy Brands, lauded the enduring spirit of the awardees, emphasizing the profound journey the initiative has taken and its benefit to society. He highlighted the powerful legacy of past winners, including Isaac Adjaotor for his Farm for Livelihood Association supporting persons with disabilities, Eunice Asiedua for establishing a school from scratch, and others like Dr. Kwame Sarkwah and Hellen White-Poku, all celebrated for their powerful civic actions. This year's cohort continued to inspire, with recognition extended to individuals making strides in women’s financial empowerment, inclusive education, hybrid learning innovations, and environmental wellness.

Among the celebrated unsung heroes and heroines, Raymond Senyo Amezado, an Army veteran, returned to Ghana to combat poverty through the Fafali Organisation. His initiatives reach over 4,000 children annually via after-school education, STEM programs, sports coaching, and scholarships, leading to a doubling of high school enrolment and an 80% reduction in teenage pregnancy in their focus areas. Akua Sarpong oversees Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana (LCCG), supporting over 2,000 families with diagnostics, treatment, and psychosocial care, and is currently building a 40-bed Oncology Centre at Korle Bu to increase accessibility.

Geoffrey Kwame Buta, a photojournalist, has supported community development through his Foto4Change initiative, building a three-unit classroom block for Zagyuri Anglican School and empowering hearing-impaired children with photography through Foto4Change Visual Storytelling for the Deaf (FVSD). Eric Boadi Sampong revived Atta ne Atta D/A Primary School, increasing enrolment from 13 to over 100 students and establishing a Junior High School with a 100% BECE pass rate, also undertaking significant infrastructure projects like classroom blocks and boreholes.

Williams Ayaaba Akongbabre, an educator and creative arts advocate, has equipped thousands of students and teachers with quality learning resources, including “Action Packs” and Creative Arts textbooks, making the subject accessible across Ghana. Osei Kwadwo Boateng, founder of OKB Hope Foundation, expands access to preventive and primary healthcare with a mobile medical unit that has reached over 10,000 people and launched Wohohiame Wellness, a mental health initiative including an AI-powered assistant called HeyAkua.

Portia Dumba empowers rural women and youth through her ‘Podu Care’ foundation, training women in shea butter processing and engaging young girls in community initiatives against teenage pregnancy and school dropout. She also promotes sustainable fuel alternatives and runs a basic school for less privileged children. Bennett Asante Nkrumah runs Generation Hope International School, a tuition-free school and charity home serving 137 students and accommodating 65 children from vulnerable backgrounds, providing uniforms, meals, and materials.

Daniel Nkrumah, Founder of the FOPIC Foundation, has impacted over 140,000 people by delivering clean water to over 30,000 individuals, distributing clothing to more than 100,000, and supporting over 10,000 orphans across Ghana’s neglected communities. Finally, Joseph Tettey Afangbe, through Young Visionary Leaders Ghana’s Water for Ghana Project, has provided clean water to over 130,000 people across five regions by installing mechanised boreholes, significantly reducing disease and improving school attendance.

Looking ahead, the JoyNews Impact Makers Awards, in partnership with the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy and Social Investment of Pentecost University and Philanthropy Ghana, unveiled ambitious plans to further empower its awardees. These plans include securing scholarships and sponsorships to scale impactful initiatives, expanding global networks by connecting awardees to NEXUS Global, African Philanthropy Network, WINGS, and the African Youth Philanthropy Network, and enrolling them in mentorship programs. The success of the awards is supported by esteemed partners and sponsors such as the McDan Foundation, Maranatha Oil Services, Goldkey Properties, M&C Group Global, German Ozone Medical Centre, Latex Foam, CEO Summit, Lakeside Estate, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, CESPSI, and Philanthropy Ghana. The 3rd Impact Makers Awards reaffirmed its commitment to unearthing and celebrating Ghana's unsung heroes, solidifying its role as a vital platform for driving positive change across the nation.