Felix Larbi Appiah, a 2024 Mandela Washington Fellow and Head of Community Development at the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly, has partnered with U.S. scholar and global leadership expert Dr. Artika Tyner to advance inclusive governance and justice-centered leadership across Ghana’s Greater Accra Region. The collaboration is supported through the prestigious Reciprocal Exchange Award of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Together, Appiah and Tyner implemented the project “Strengthening Local Leadership for Community Development,” which trained 111 community leaders through a three-part workshop series. Each session focused on building values-driven leadership, strengthening decision-making skills, fostering collaboration, and advancing equity in governance. Participants included representatives from local government, civil society, health institutions, traditional councils, and child protection organizations.
“This project demonstrates the power of grassroots leadership,” said Felix Appiah. “When local leaders are equipped with the right tools and values, they become catalysts for transformation. We are building a foundation for inclusive governance that reflects the voices and needs of every member of our community.”
Dr. Tyner echoed this vision, emphasizing the global significance of the initiative. “This partnership illustrates how leadership rooted in justice can spark sustainable change,” said Dr. Artika Tyner. “The workshops not only strengthened local networks in Ghana but also created a model of collaboration that can inspire communities around the world.”
The workshops were held between September 8 and 12, 2025, beginning with a session at the Kpone Traditional Council Auditorium focused on inclusive community building. The second workshop at the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council brought together municipal and regional leaders to explore justice-centered leadership and local governance for community development. The final session, hosted with the Ghanaian NGO Chance for Children, expanded the dialogue to civil society perspectives and child protection.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship, a flagship program of the U.S. Department of State, empowers young African leaders through academic and professional exchanges. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX. The Reciprocal Exchange component strengthens partnerships between Fellows and U.S. counterparts to advance community-driven solutions.
Lessons learned from the workshops will also be shared globally through Planting People Growing Justice (PPGJ), extending the impact beyond Ghana’s borders.
About the Mandela Washington Fellowship
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Established in 2014, the Fellowship has supported nearly 6,000 young leaders from across Sub-Saharan Africa through academic coursework, leadership training, and professional development.
About Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute (PPGJ)
Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute is a U.S.-based nonprofit founded by Dr. Artika Tyner. PPGJ promotes leadership development, education, and community engagement with a focus on advancing social and racial justice.
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