VHF honours six outstanding personalities
The Volta Heroes Foundation (VHF) has held the third edition of awards and dinner dance at which six outstanding personalities were awarded for their various roles to the development of the region and the nation as a whole.
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They personalities were, the vice -chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences(UHAS), Professor Fred Newton Binka; an agriculturist, Mr Edward Kofi Ahiabor ; a former Volta Regional Minister, Dr Austin Asamoah-Tutu; two past moderators of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Very Reverend Japhet Yao Ledo and Very Reverend
Dr Livingstone Komla Buama, and ex-Warrant Officer Class 1 Michael Helegbe.
Aim of awards
The awards were aimed at celebrating them for their exceptional works in their fields of endeavor which had led to the development and had been declared as heroes to serve as an inspiration for others to emulate.
Professor Binka was noted for public health delivery in the world at large that had earned him an accolade as a “professorial builder of systems and institutions” and Mr Ahiabor was noted for training of farmers in the application of tube well irrigation technology for increased productivity while Dr Asamoah-Tutu was instrumental in designing and implementing notable projects as the “VORADEP” village and the Gbidukorza of the people of Peki and Hohoe.
The two moderators, Very Reverend Ledo and Very Reverend Dr Buama were recognized for championing the establishment of the E.P University with WO1 Helegbe for achievements in sports especially at the Commonwealth Games at which he set a record which was broken after 24 years.
Need for recognition
In an address, a minister of state at the presidency, Mr Akwasi Oppong Ofosu said the significant of the event cannot be underestimated because it gave credence to people who had not hit the headlines although they were performing without notice on the own volition of self- less duty to society.
He said there were many who had played significant roles to humanity but remain unrecognized and that the roles of many had been politicized and thus the initiative of the Volta Heroes Foundation was worth emulating to give value for the need of a nation to recognize its heroes.
In 2013, the executive chairman of Bedrock Ventures, Mr Rockson Dogbegah mooted the idea for the formation of the foundation and registered it as a non-partisan , non-sectarian and a non- profitable organisation with the sole responsibility of pushing forward the agenda of recognizing distinguished men and women who have made sacrifices towards the socio-economic development of the Volta Region.
Past events and awards
At the maiden awards in 2013, Bishop Francis Kofi Anani Lodonu received a citation on Christian religion, Dr Frank Nyonator for public health administration, Mr James Bebaako-Mensah and Mr W.K Kemevor for public service, Dr George Afeti for tertiary education, Dr Uma Sen for maternal health and Colonel John Augustine Kabore(retd) for public administration.
Last year, Monsignor Joachim Boumas Kwamena Eleeza was honored for secondary education, Dr (Mrs ) Esther Afua Ocloo for industry and advocacy, Mr Walter Blege for music and culture, Mrs Vida Aku-Sika Tete-Dzobo for girl child education and Mrs Victoria Norgbey for community development.
