On Saturday, 13th June 2026, the Assembly Hall of Manya Krobo Senior High School (MAKROSEC) in Odumase-Krobo came alive with a different kind of lesson — one not found in any syllabus.
Friends of Girls Africa (FoGA), a Ghanaian Non-Profit Organisation dedicated to youth empowerment, held the maiden edition of its flagship programme, the FoGA Future Ready Series, under the theme: “Beyond the Uniform: Preparing for Life After SHS.”
Approximately 200 final-year students gathered for a full day of panel discussions, breakout sessions, and open conversations led by ten volunteer professionals spanning entrepreneurship, agribusiness, procurement, development practice, conservation, and the creative industries.
The goal was straightforward and ambitious in equal measure: to equip young people with the knowledge, perspective, and confidence to navigate what comes after secondary school.
A HOMECOMING WITH PURPOSE
The choice of MAKROSEC as the venue for the programme’s inaugural edition was not incidental. FoGA Co-Founders, Christel Comfort Agbemafle and Godsway Cofie Obro-Boateng, are proud alumni of the school and served as its Senior School Prefects in 2017.
Speaking at the opening, Christel reflected on what it meant to return — not as a student, but as someone committed to giving back.
The significance was not lost on the school’s leadership either. Mr. Jonas Dorkordi, Assistant Headmaster II (Academics), expressed his profound gratitude to FoGA and to Christel personally for choosing to launch the programme at the very institution that gave her her first leadership role.
In his remarks, he encouraged the team to consider establishing a permanent FoGA club at MAKROSEC, so that continuing students could benefit from the knowledge the mentors had freely shared.
VOICES FROM THE FIELD
The heart of the day was a structured panel discussion moderated by Christel herself, featuring seven of the ten volunteer mentors.
Panellists spoke candidly about their journeys from SHS to their current careers — including gap years, university experiences, financial habits, the role of social media, romantic relationships, and the growing influence of artificial intelligence in today’s world of work.
Among the panellists were Wendell Nyumutei, Founder and CEO of LOWELEM Veterinary Services Limited; Lawrencia Yeboah, Founder of the Laynah Cares Foundation; Prince Forson, a development practitioner and youth advocate; Andrews Acquah Abekah, a project management professional and peer counsellor at the British High Commission in Accra; Hetty Lumor, an administrative professional and emerging entrepreneur; Emmanuel Yoosi Affum, a Chartered MCIPS procurement and supply chain specialist at Telecel Ghana; and, Ezekiel Hayford, ODA Delivery Officer at the British High Commission in Accra.
Each panellist was drawn from a different professional path, deliberately chosen to demonstrate that there is no single road to a meaningful career.
Their stories — unscripted, honest, and often personal — kept students visibly engaged throughout.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SHS? STUDENTS EXPLORE FOUR PATHWAYS
Following the panel, students engaged in an anonymous Q&A session which highlighted distinct post-SHS pathways: university education; Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); entrepreneurship and direct employment; and professional certifications and online or self-directed learning.
The volunteer mentors challenged common misconceptions and prompted students to reflect on which pathway aligned with their own strengths and aspirations. The response was enthusiastic, with students queuing to speak and the session running beyond its scheduled close.
A TEAM BUILT ON SHARED VALUES
Beyond the seven panellists, the day was supported by additional mentors and backend volunteers who contributed logistics, documentation, photography, and facilitation.
The broader team included Emmanuel Narh, Founder and CEO of Magma Multimedia; Bright Okley, entrepreneur and travel consultant; Dennis A. Senyo, Deputy Director of Operations at LAWSCAMP GH; Yaw Appiah Kubi, a photographer and cybersecurity student; and creative contributors Mawuko Kojo Ishmael Awuye and Tawiah Obed Narh, whose design and visual storytelling work shaped FoGA’s brand identity for the event.
Many in the team are MAKROSEC alumni themselves — a thread that gave the day a distinctive sense of legacy and return.
FOGA: INVESTING IN YOUTH, TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES
Friends of Girls Africa (FoGA) is a Ghanaian-based Non-Profit Organisation spearheading a mission to nurture and equip young Africans with the skills, opportunities, and support needed to realise their potential.
FoGA places particular emphasis on girls and young women, while intentionally engaging young boys and men as partners in building more inclusive communities.
Its intervention areas span education and scholarships, health and wellbeing, economic empowerment, human rights advocacy, mentorship, and leadership development.
The FoGA Future Ready Series marks the organisation’s evolution from supporting other institutions’ programmes to originating its own — a milestone that reflects the ambition and growing capacity of its founding team. If the energy in the Assembly Hall of MAKROSEC on 13th June 2026 is anything to go by, it will not be the last.
Source: Friends of Girls Africa (FoGA)| Saturday, 13th June 2026| Odumase-Krobo, Eastern Region, Ghana
