In short, the mission of Sankofa International, Inc. (Sankofa) is to help needy Africans become self-sustaining.  Education is a critical component to ensure success.

In Ghana, public school education is free up through middle school.  In rural villages, 95 percent of the students are not educated beyond the middle school level for financial reasons.  Also, schools lack basic supplies.

1995

• Built 3 class rooms for elementary students
• Refurbished roof on old school building

1997

• Launched annual program to provide school supplies for elementary schools

2002

• Launched scholarship program covering fees, books, accommodations, and pocket money. 
• High school scholarships awarded to Emilia Nyamaa-age 16; Michael Asamoah-age 17; and Beatrice Yeboah-age 16.   All three students were graduates of the Adum-Afrancho Junior Secondary School at Afrancho in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District of Ghana’s Ashanti Region.  Emilia and Michael attended Senior Secondary School (Academic High School) and Beatrice attended Vocational School (emphasis on catering services).  Since then, over a dozen students have graduated from Senior Secondary, Vocational, and Technical Schools. 

2005

• Mr. Ronald Settle, a resident of Virginia, established the “Nellene Turner Settle Award For Excellence In The Face Of Adversity”.  Priscilla Obeng Kwakye, a sixteen year old from Kumasi, Ghana, won the award including a full scholarship at the senior secondary school level.  Unfortunately, after two years, Priscilla became ill and was unable to complete her education.

• Isaac Abu graduated from Winneba Secondary School.  Isaac was sponsored by Joan Mancuso, a resident of Florida.

2010

• Gifty Nyarko graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology – Major:  Human Settlement Planning.  Gifty is Sankofa’s first university graduate.
• Joyce Nartey graduated from Elite College in Kumasi with an emphasis on Science;
• Richard Arko graduated from Toase Senior High School in Kumasi  
• Florence Nyarko graduated from Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ Secondary School in Kumasi  
• Based on Sankofa experiences, most students in Ghana are struggling to make payments.  Therefore, to expand the scholarship program and provide financial relief for more students, Sankofa established The Sankofa National Scholarship Program.(SNSP).  Under the SNSP, individuals can register to have the opportunity to be selected for a full scholarship at the senior secondary, vocational, technical, and tertiary school levels. 

2011

• Benedicta Minlah graduated from Accra Polytechnic with a HND Accounting Certificate
  Awarded 2 university level scholarships under the newly created national program.  Scholarship recipients are:
• Patrick Afum (Northern Region) – Patrick is a level 200 student at the University for Development Studies, Tamale, majoring in Applied Chemistry. 
• Emmanuel Prempeh Jr. (Ashanti Region) – Emmanuel is a high school graduate awaiting his results so he can apply to a university.

Many Africans, especially those living in rural areas, are required to walk long distances to get to a main road to wait on unreliable transportation.  In some areas, the one way walk can easily reach 4 miles or more.  Even more, they often have to carry heavy loads while walking.  Many suffer neck, back, and spinal cord problems, at a young age, due to carrying heavy loads on their head for long distances.

Sankofa has developed plans to implement a transportation system to help ease the suffering of approximately 10,000 people, the total population of eleven rural villages in Ghana’s Ashanti Region.  Two passenger vans and one cargo van will be used to support the transportation program. 

For passenger service, Sankofa will offer scheduled service during rush hour.  Outside of rush hour, resident will be required to call for service.  For cargo service, residents can call to arrange for door to door service.

Sankofa will also implement an emergency transportation and communication system to handle medical emergencies.

As of January 2011, Sankofa has mapped out routes using the global positioning system (GPS).  Also, with the support of Ghana’s Government, approximately seven miles of road, Covering the routes, has been paved.  Finally, the emergency communication system has been designed and the equipment is on hand. 

Sankofa is in need of funding to purchase the passenger and cargo vans.

Most needy Africans have never been serviced by a doctor or dentist due to poverty.  Therefore, many die prematurely.                                                                                                                                            
2002

• In partnership with the Komfo Anoyke Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, Sankofa began conducting medical exams on needy teachers and students in Ghana’s Ashanti Region.  To date, over five hundred examinations have been completed and prescription medication has been purchased for over 250 patients.

2011

• Sankofa met with dentists interested in providing free dental services for needy Africans.  The program is scheduled to be launched in 2013.

2006

• Sankofa began conducting workshops on a variety of life-management topics, including decision making, money management, strategic planning, health management, discrimination, business planning, effective communication, family planning, education, HIV/AIDS education, honesty and integrity, and lots more. All workshops use the Word of God as the foundation. The Africans have embraced the workshops and progress is being made.

2008

• Developed an official committee to receive certification training, to become Sankofa training conductors

2009

• Chief Nii Kuma from the Greater Accra Region, in Ghana, donated land to Sankofa to be used for a future training and development center, to help needy youth in Achimota and other surrounding villages.  Training programs will include, but not be limited to, hair, catering, sewing, and computers.

2010

• Established the Sankofa National Scholarship Team to support the National Scholarship Program.

2011

• Launched Introductory Africa Awareness and Education Workshop in USA

2012

•  Conducted Introductory Africa Awareness and Education Workshops for senior citizens.

1995

• Took electricity into Adum Afrancho and Odumasi, Ashanti Region.
• Renevoted village school

2010

• Established "Change To Make A Change" to feed orphans
• Established "Used Clothing" to provide quality clothes for orphans
• Established "Helping Hands Touching Hearts" to cover expenses for used clothing program

2008

• Launched small micro-loan program to help small businesses in rural villages.  18 loans were awarded and all were paid back in full

• Sankofa International, Inc. (Sankofa) is committed to documenting its programs utilizing state-of-the art technology.  To accomplish this, Sankofa collaborated with C.A. Benjamin Associates, LLC (CAB), for technical support and assistance. 
• In 2004, the documentary “400 Years And An Ocean Apart” was completed.  This documentary covers the life changing journey of nine African Americans who traveled to Africa with Sankofa in 2004.
• In 2006, the music video “America The Beautiful” was completed.  The song was performed by the Adum Afrancho and Odumasi Mass Choir as part of a gospel concert to thank Sankofa for all its support.
• In 2008, “When My Feet Touched The Ground” was edited, and it’s scheduled to be published in 2011.  The novel, which is based on a true story, covers Sankofa’s CEO’s initial God inspired experiences in Africa.
• In 2009, the documentary “The Return Home” was completed.  This documentary covers the life-changing journey of eleven Americans who traveled to Africa with Sankofa in 2009.  For some, it was their first trip.  For others, it was a much needed return home.
• In 2009, Lloyd Guy, an African American song writer, wrote “God Had His Way” to serve as Sankofa’s theme song.  The lyrics address the God inspired bond between Africans and African Americans, and how God will use the suffering of Africans and African Americans, through slavery, to uplift Africa.  The song was produced in 2010.  In 2011, the draft story board was completed for a mini movie.
• In 2010, a new Sankofa web site was launched, providing a more comprehensive snap shot of Sankofa activities.
• In 2011, Sankofa developed a wide range of materials (flyers, cards, brochures, banners, etc.)
• In 2012, a new Sankofa web site was launched, providing a more current and comprehensive snapshot of Sankofa activities.

 

Taste of Africa

Sankofa has an annual “A Taste of Africa” in the USA to enhance Africa awareness among Americans.  At these events, one can find a variety of African foods prepared by Occasional Catering, drumming and dancing, story-telling, African fashions, essay and poetry contests, and more.  Attendees can also purchase hand-made African clothes, jewelry, wood carvings, and more, at unbelievably low prices.  One year, the Program was covered by former Fox TV Anchorwoman, Tracey Neale, who also served as a guest model for the African fashion show.  Part of the Program was aired on Fox TV.

Group Trips to Africa

In 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2011, Sankofa took to Africa, nine, twenty-two, eleven and six Americans, respectively.  These proved to be life-changing journeys for the Africans and the Americans.  Through word of mouth, the success of the trips is reaching the general population and churches and other organizations have expressed an interest in traveling to Africa with Sankofa. 

• In 1995, Sankofa officials were interviewed on WOL Radio, in Baltimore, Maryland.
• In 1997, Richard Willis was enstooled as Chief of Economic Development for Ghana’s Ashanti Region.
• In 1999, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Supreme Ashanti Leader, invited Sankofa leaders to his palace as an expression of thanks and appreciation.
• In 2001, Susan Gervasi, of the Prince George’s Journal, wrote a front page article on Sankofa covering the years 1993 to 2001.
• In 2002, the Ghana Review International wrote an article on Sankofa covering scholarships awarded in the Ashanti Region of Ghana
• In 2003, Sankofa’s “A Taste of Africa” was aired on Fox TV (channel 5) in Washington, D.C.
• In 2004, Sankofa was interviewed on several national radio stations in Ghana (including Spirit FM).
• In 2005, Sankofa was interviewed on Comcast Local Edition (Maryland cable television).
• In 2006, Sankofa was awarded the 2006 Mrs. Wilburn Boddie Peace Award by the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME)  African Methodist Episcopal Church Service And Development Agency (AME-SADA), for promoting peace in Africa through grass-root development projects.
• From 2007 through 2009, Sankofa has been interviewed on numerous radio stations in Ghana.
• In 2010, a Sankofa donation, to pay the fees for a boy’s operation, was aired on TV3 News in Ghana.
• In 2011, Sankofa’s National Scholarship Program was aired on Ghana radio, nationwide