When Ishaq Umar Rahima stepped onto the national stage at the 2025 Ghana Leadership Awards held at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, it was more than a personal victory.
It was a powerful affirmation that age is no barrier to leadership, impact and national influence.
Crowned the “Most Promising Young Leader of the Year”, Ishaq’s journey from the Yawhima community in Sunyani to one of Ghana’s most prestigious leadership platforms tells a compelling story of courage, purpose, and the transformative power of opportunity.
As the Majority Leader of the Sunyani Adolescents Parliament, Ishaq represents the voices, dreams and concerns of young people in her community with uncommon confidence and clarity. As a teenager, she has emerged as a fearless advocate for education, accountability and inclusive development – proving that adolescents are not just leaders of tomorrow, but change-makers of today.
Her rise has been shaped by the Resilient City for Adolescents (RCA) Project, implemented by the Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF) with support from Ecorys UK and Fondation Botnar. Through this initiative, Ishaq was trained as an Adolescent Transformative Journalist, equipping her with media, advocacy and leadership skills that she has boldly deployed to influence real change.
Using her voice and the power of storytelling, Ishaq helped draw national attention to the abandoned Bono Regional Library, a symbol of neglect that had stood idle for over two decades. Her advocacy, alongside that of fellow adolescent MPs, elevated the issue to national discourse, prompting commitments from duty bearers. Beyond advocacy, her leadership also contributed to tangible development outcomes, including the construction of a new 3 unit classroom block for African Faith Basic School at Yawhima, directly improving access to quality education for children who hitherto studied under trees.
The Ghana Leadership Awards, known for celebrating excellence, integrity, and impact across public service, civil society, business, and youth leadership, recognized in Ishaq what many already see, a young leader with vision, empathy and the ability to mobilize change.
Her award is not only a personal milestone but also a shared triumph for GLOMEF, Ecorys UK, and Fondation Botnar, whose investment in adolescent leadership through the Resilient City for Adolescents project continues to bear inspiring results. It also validates the Sunyani Adolescents Parliament as a bold and effective model for youth participation in governance and development.
Ishaq Umar Rahima’s story is a reminder that when young people are trusted, trained, and given space to lead, they do not disappoint.
Source: www.kumasimail.com/Edmond Gyebi
