A total of 40 young Ghanaians have left the country to attend the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellowship of the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) in the United States.
The 40 include the Head of Public Relations for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), in the Western Region, Philip Osei Bonsu.
A statement from the US Embassy in Ghana, said they were selected from more than 4,000 applicants who showed interest in the programme.
The statement added that, the 40 together with others from sub-Saharan Africa, will spend the next six weeks in the US and will be back in August 2017.
“The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the U. S. government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), which was launched in 2010. A total of 1,000 Mandela Washington Fellows from sub-Saharan African countries will spend the next six weeks in the United States.”
“Groups of 25 Fellows each are assigned to 38 different American universities that offer rigorous academic coursework and leadership training. Three of Ghana’s Fellows will participate in the Public Management Energy Policy Institute at the University of California, Davis. In addition to leadership training, the Energy Institute will focus its academic sessions on creative and pragmatic energy policies and legal practices that foster efficient markets for energy without sacrificing the environment. Fellows will hone their awareness of the global energy system and how energy policies and laws can encourage or thwart innovation and financing,” the statement added.
The Embassy further explained that, upon their return to Ghana, the Fellows will continue to build the skills they have developed during their time in the United States through support from the U. S. Embassy, the YALI West Africa Regional Leadership Center, the YALI Network, and customized programming from the U.S. Agency for International Development and affiliated partners.
“The Young African Leaders Initiative is a key part of the U. S. government’s commitment to invest in the future of Africa. This initiative was created out of the recognition that young Africans are playing a critical and increasing role in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth, and enhancing peace and security in Africa,” the statement added.
In 2016, Citi FM’s Deputy Director of News Programming, Nana Boakye-Yiadom, was part of those selected to represent Ghana in the US for the 2016 edition.
Below if the full list of the 2017 YALI Fellows:
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(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)