Leaders

Joseph B. Danquah (RD) is a clinical dietitian and social entrepreneur at the forefront of maternal and child nutrition in Ghana. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Healthmates Nutrition, a mission-driven enterprise using local innovation to combat child malnutrition, prevent non-communicable diseases, and promote nutrition equity through affordable, culturally sensitive food solutions. Under his leadership, Healthmates Nutrition has successfully developed and piloted locally formulated complementary foods, earning recognition from international partners and launching impactful community initiatives—most notably the Mother-MUAC Campaign, which trains caregivers, especially mothers, to detect early signs of malnutrition in children. This groundbreaking effort, conceived and implemented by Healthmates Nutrition, has improved child survival outcomes in vulnerable regions. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Joseph serves as the General Secretary of the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND), where he advocates for the elevation of nutrition practice and policy across Ghana’s health system. He currently works as a clinical dietitian at the South Tongu District Hospital in Sogakope, where he integrates frontline clinical care with evidence-based community nutrition programming. Joseph is also a candidate in the Master of Business Creation (MBC) program at the David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah, where he is building the entrepreneurial and operational capacity to scale Healthmates Nutrition into a high-impact, sustainable nutrition enterprise. A passionate advocate for health equity and food sovereignty, Joseph is leading a new generation of African innovators transforming the future of child and maternal nutrition—one community at a time.

Mr. Labram Musah Massawudu holds a Higher National Diploma in Marketing from the Accra Technical University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Professional Studies and an MBA in Project Management from the Wisconsin International University College. Labram is currently the Executive Director of Programs of the Vision for Alternative Development (VALD-Ghana), the leading organization advocating for stringent tobacco control and alcohol policy as well as road safety and climate change measures in Ghana. He doubles as the National Coordinator of the Ghana NCD Alliance. Labram’s advocacy work was instrumental in the development process leading to the adoption of the National Alcohol Policy in 2016. Labram has authored and co-authored several publications, such as the Ghana Tobacco Industry Interference Index in 2020 and 2021, the Situational Analysis on the Status of NCDs within the context of UHC in Ghana, the Ghana Advocacy Agenda for People Living with NCDs in 2018, the civil society shadow report on the implementation of the WHO-FCTC in Ghana in 2010 and the Ghana Tobacco Industry Mapping/Monitoring report for Ghana in 2006-2012. He supervised the study report titled: “Alcohol use in Ghana, a situational Analysis”; and the “Economics of Tobacco Control in Ghana”.

James Mckeown Amoah is the National organizer of Ghana Public Health Association. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Ghana, Master of Nursing degree from University of Zululand, South Africa and currently a final year Master of Science in Global Health student at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK. His areas of interest and research are tropical diseases, improving health systems, non-communicable diseases and food environment. He has worked on several projects including the Advocating for Health project that saw the successful implementation of a tax on sugar sweetened beverages in Ghana. He works at the Renal Dialysis Unit of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as a Senior Nursing Officer.

Suleiman Yahaya is a Corporate and Social Communications Practitioner. He has worked with several organizations, such as Palza Medical Centre, Forum for African Youth Alliance, Dakuciki Productions and a number of Start-Ups in the area of Communications and Research. Suleiman Yahaya is currently the Communications Advisor of the Institute of Leadership and Development (INSLA) and the Coordinator for CAPHA’s Healthier Diets for Healthier Lives Project. He holds a Master of Arts Degree in Development Communication from the Ghana Institute of Journalism.

Mohammed Amidu Alhassan (MBA, BMS): Institutional Development Manager of Songtaba with about 10 years experience in managing donor-funded projects in Ghana. I have served as project manager for projects such as the Girls Advocacy Alliance Project (a 5-year multi-country project implemented in 3 districts of Northern Region in partnership with Plan International Ghana), Women Voice and Leadership project, Power to Youth, Empower Her Grant, and played key roles in the implementation of the Women Mental Health Project in Northern Region.

Jacob Johnson Attakpah is a Project Coordinator at Green Africa Youth Organization where he implements zero-waste projects. Jacob holds a Master’s degree in climate change and sustainable development from the University of Ghana, Legon. He has extensive knowledge of multilateral environmental agreements and food systems. Jacob is a big believer in grassroots mobilization and movement building to implement change locally. When Jacob is not being a steward of the environment, he mentors university students in debate and public speaking.