Twelve Ghanaians across different sectors have been named among a list of 100 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) under 40, a global 100 list that identifies high achievers of African descent worldwide, pairing those based across the Diaspora with their counterparts inside Africa.

The MIPAD under 40 recognition comes as a global civil society initiative in support of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent and recognises young people across four categories namely: Politics & Governance, Business & Entrepreneurship, Media & Culture and Religious & Humanitarian.

Young Ghanaians who have been announced as part of the 2019 class of the global recognition include: Presidential Spokesperson, Eugene Arhin in the Politics & Governance Category and Papa-Wassa Chiefy Nduom of Groupe Ndoum; Vice President of Marketing at DoorDash, Kofi Amoo-Gottfried & Akua Gyekye, Public Policy Manager for Africa in the Business & Entrepreneurship category.

The Media & Culture category which was announced at the sidelines of the BET Awards in Los Angeles in June also features Actress Juliet Ibrahim; co-founder of Face2Face Africa, Sandra Appiah; Founder of African Fashion Fund, Roberta Annan; Founder and Managing Director of Avance Media, Prince Akpah; Global Youth Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, Jake Obeng-Bediako; CEO of Core Hospitality Anita Ottenhof and the Head of Music Marketing at Beats by Dre, Nana Adu Sarfo.

Other notable young Ghanaians who have received this honour in the past include MP Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Virgil Abloh, Rebecca Acheampong, Nana Appiah Mensah, Kow Essuman, Ashifi Gogo, Afua Osei and Peace Hyde.

As a 2019 honouree of MIPAD, Prince Akpah, Founder & MD of Avance Media, an African PR & Rating firm with presence in 7 countries noted that it is an honour to have the works of Avance Media recognised as part of this year’s ranking, and he is hopeful, the recognition will inspire more young people of African descent to pursue their dreams without looking back at their backgrounds.

According to Kamil Olufowobi, CEO of MIPAD, MIPAD media & culture recognition in 2019 would not be complete without a special commendation award for the Government of Ghana landmark marketing campaign, Year of Return – Ghana 2019, targeting the Diaspora to mark the 400th year anniversary of the first enslaved Africans arrival in the United States by returning home to Ghana in the year 2019. All MIPAD Honorees past and current of Ghanaian origin are celebrated within this group recognition.

Honourees are expected to be awarded at the sidelines of the 2019 United Nations General Assembly in New York.