2020
Joseph (Ekow) Amoako-Atta
- Age: 26
- | He/him/his
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Throughout history, women have been the pillar of successful societies. Why deny millions of opportunities because of social labels? I am a man who will stand for women’s rights until the world is a better place for us all.
- Joseph (Ekow) Amoako-Atta
Bio
Joseph Amoako-Atta, preferably called “Ekow,” is a journalist and gender equality advocate from Ghana. Professionally working as a reporter since the fall of 2018, he has braced several aspects of the field of journalism but what really got him to intensify his efforts for gender equality was when he worked in the field of hate crimes as a Youth Reporter for the Team Harmony Foundation in Boston, MA in 2020. Experiencing discrimination and hate at first hand, led him to apply for a Women Deliver Grant which he won to fund his advocacy project on enabling SRHR services for adolescents in his hometown of Somanya in Yilo Krobo District in Ghana. Today this project is expanding to other parts of the Region and Ghana at large. He is currently a reporter and content creation manager with the Kente Business Journal.
What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?
Ekow is the son of a women who was denied basic education while growing up simply because education wasn't seen as an important thing to a girl at the time. Ekow's mother defied the odds, and through commerce and entrepreneurship, she grew up to establish a basic school to provide affordable and quality education for children which several scholarships offered to needy children, mostly young girls. Her passion to succeed is the reason why I believe that the strive for gender equality is one we must all take part in. That is why I am a gender advocate.
Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.
My biggest win as a gender advocate was when my initial Women Deliver funded project, "Youth Stand for SRHR in Yilo Krobo" was able to impact the lives of 300 young adolescents directly and over 900 young people in the district. The leaders of the Municipal assembly and education directorate who initially had doubts about the project, later on were very appreciative of our work and eventually became long term partners in championing accessibility to SRHR information and services to the adolescents of Yilo Krobo.
Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?
Apart from working as a journalist, I love to study history, write fictions and play video games.
Languages Spoken:
- English (Advanced/Native)
- Krobo (Advanced/Native)
- Twi/Akan (Advanced/Native)
- Krobo (Advanced/Native)
Publications:
Speaks On:
- male engagement
- access to education
- women's political participation and leadership
Past Awards, Certifications, or Fellowships:
- Ghana Institute of Journalism Student Blogger of the Year Award - 2017
- YOUNGA Youth Delegates Program Completion Certificate - 2020
- Team Harmony Global News Team Certificate of participation - 2021
- Women Deliver Western & Central Africa Workshop Certificate - 2021
