In a heartfelt ceremony steeped in tradition and legacy, the Busia family has launched the Amma Busia Memorial Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on two of Ghana’s most pressing issues—diabetes and access to education.
Held in Wenchi, in the Bono Region—birthplace of the late Obaapanyin Nana Amma Bame Busia, a revered stateswoman and family matriarch—the launch paid tribute to her enduring legacy of public service and community empowerment.
The foundation will serve as a beacon of hope for underserved communities, targeting diabetes prevention and treatment, while supporting the educational advancement of disadvantaged youth.
A Nation Under Siege by Diabetes
According to national health data, over 2.4 million Ghanaians are currently living with diabetes, with an alarming 200,000 new cases reported annually. The chronic illness has reached epidemic proportions, silently burdening families, healthcare systems, and the economy.
In his keynote remarks, Nana Akwesi Agyeman Busia, son of the late Amma Busia, emphasized the foundation’s dual mission to confront one of Ghana’s deadliest but most overlooked health challenges, while investing in the minds of tomorrow’s leaders.
“This is not just a memorial,” Nana Akwesi stated. “This is a call to action, one that my mother would be proud of—advancing healthcare equity and access to quality education for children who need it most.”
Foundation Pillars: Health, Education, and Opportunity
The Amma Busia Memorial Foundation will operate as a non-profit organization working in collaboration with both local and international partners. Its activities are rooted in three core pillars:
- Diabetes Research & Awareness: Hosting community health screenings, data-driven outreach, and treatment programs in vulnerable communities.
- Educational Support: Offering scholarships, mentorship, and career development programs for brilliant but economically disadvantaged students in Wenchi and surrounding areas.
- Institutional Partnerships: Collaborating with hospitals, research institutions, and schools to amplify the reach and sustainability of its programs.
Healthcare Institutions Join the Cause
In a significant endorsement, Alexander Kweku Kyei, CEO of Wenchi Methodist Hospital, pledged the hospital’s commitment to the Foundation’s objectives.
He revealed that the facility would integrate the Foundation’s health campaign into its outreach programs to boost screening and treatment efforts.
“Our doors are open to the Amma Busia Memorial Foundation,” said Kyei. “We will work hand in hand to scale up diabetes education and ensure no patient is left behind.”
A Legacy Reimagined
Amma Busia, the sister of Ghana’s late Prime Minister Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, was known not only for her political insight but also for her compassion and commitment to public service. Her memory, through this foundation, is now poised to transform lives across Ghana, beginning in the very town that nurtured her values.
The launch of the Amma Busia Memorial Foundation marks more than the beginning of a non-profit; it represents a movement to inspire healthier lives and brighter futures, led by the spirit of a woman whose life was defined by service.
