By Milcah Tanimu
Jackie Appiah, celebrated Ghanaian actress, marked her 40th birthday by providing life-changing opportunities to victims affected by the Akosombo Dam flood. As part of her philanthropic celebration, she sponsored weeks of intensive vocational and technical skills training in various fields, including catering, metal works, hairdressing, fashion designing, cosmetology, tie and dye production, and cake crafts for the flood victims.
The beneficiaries of Jackie Appiah’s generosity were presented with accredited certificates and full start-up kits at a graduation ceremony held on December 6, 2023, at the Mepe St. Kizito Displaced Camp in the North Tongu constituency. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for the constituency, praised Jackie’s remarkable initiative, highlighting that the skills facilitators were chosen from top institutions across the country.
Ablakwa expressed that Jackie’s timely skills training and empowerment would significantly benefit many distressed dependents, including children and the elderly. He commended her for teaching the flood victims how to fish, metaphorically emphasizing sustainable empowerment over temporary assistance. Additionally, Ablakwa showed his support by providing cash grants to the facilitators and all apprentices as start-up capital.**
