Afasi Komla
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This biographical article is written like a résumé. (June 2022) |
Afasi Komla (born 15 May 1980) is a Ghanaian social entrepreneur who has been involved in anti-human trafficking processes, community developments,[1] and community engagements geared towards the prevention of various social menace.[2][3][4] He is the head of the Operations and Project Department for Engage Now Africa, [5] a non-governmental organisation with a vision to empower individuals, villages, and communities through healing, rescuing, and lifting. [6] Komla is the Director of the Sub-Saharan Africa division of the End Modern Slavery project of Engage Now Africa, which has the primary mission to combat modern-day slavery practices, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and trafficking. He is also a member of the Management Committee that provides strategic direction and leadership to the Commonwealth 8.7 Network.[7]
He has also planned and coordinated various projects for Alma House, Ensign College of Public Health, and Forever Young International. He is the C.E.O of Equity International School in Suhum.[8]
Early life and education[edit]
Afasi Komla was born in Suhum in the Eastern Region of Ghana on 15th May 1980. His father, Daniel Kwame Afasi was a teacher, and his mother, Felicia Amoako, a trader. Komla attended Star of Suhum Primary School and completed in 1995. He then proceeded to Suhum Secondary Technical School where he studied Building and Construction. He successfully passed the Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in 1998.
He obtained a Bsc degree in Operations and Project Management in 2012 and proceeded to earn a master's degree in Development Management in 2016; both degrees were received from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
Career[edit]
Komla started working as the Transport Manager for the Ghana Accra Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2004 to 2008. He also worked as the Regional Coordinator for Freedom Now Africa from 2019 to 2021.[9]
His current work as Project Director at Engage Now Africa started in 2008. In 2021, he was appointed as the Director of the Sub-Saharan Africa division of the End Modern Slavery organisation. [5]
Afasi Komla is a member of the Management Committee that provides strategic direction and leadership to the Commonwealth 8.7 Network.[7]
He has worked with stakeholders and opinion leaders in Ghanaian communities on destructive social practices.[3] One of such engagements is his 2020 dialogue with stakeholders in the Koti shrine in Tefle- Fodzoku in the Volta Region of Ghana on modern slavery practices and the ways to address them. This dialogue which was under the theme, "Stakeholders Act Now to End Human Trafficking Amidst Covid-19 in Ghana", formed part of the worldwide celebration of World Day Against Trafficking in persons. The goal of this engagement was to gain first-hand insights from community leaders about their practices and the ways Engage Now Africa can assist to effectively abolish practices such as the ritual servitude (trokosi),[10] child trafficking, and child labor. This method of engagement adopted by Komla is said to have presented opportunities for the organisations he represents to meet a wider population of the community and provide sensitisation on harmful cultural practices and the need to eradicate them.[4][2]
Komla has also worked with anti-human trafficking groups both home and abroad.[11] [12] In his capacity as Director of Projects at Engage Now Africa, his work in the prevention and combatting of human trafficking has been covered by news agencies in Ghana including Citi Fm.[13][5][14][15][16][17][18] On 23rd February 2021, Komla and his team at End Modern Slavery, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, rescued four boys who were trafficked from Afram Plains in the Eastern Region to Agona Swedru in the Central Region. A concerned individual who happened to be aboard the same vehicle that was transporting the victims called the hotline of End Modern Slavery to report the case. Citi Fm reported that the swift action taken by End Modern Slavery and the Ghana Police Service led to the successful rescue mission and the victims being reunited with their families. The report also states that End Modern Slavery also provided funds to support the livelihood of these victims and their families.[19]
In October 2021, Komla together with his team at End Modern Slavery and Engage Now Africa collaborated with the Ghana Police Service, Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), and the Department of Social Welfare in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana, to rescue 14 children from child trafficking. After reintegrating the victims to their families and respective communities, End Modern Slavery enrolled some of the victims into schools and provided the others who opted to learn skills, such as carpentry and sewing, with the necessary tools and funding to enable them start their own businesses.[20]
Afasi Komla has driven efforts from humanitarian organisations, particularly Engage Now Africa, to improve the livelihoods of the less-privileged in deprived communities in Ghana and across Africa.[1] He has been included in news reportage for leading directives to save victims of abuse, forced labor, and other forms of maltreatments.[21][22][23] One of such instances is the role he played in the arrest and sentencing of an Imam who defiled a 12-year-old girl. This incident happened at Kwahyia in the Eastern Region of Ghana, in a village called Mameng. End Modern Slavery assisted in reporting this case to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) Police Command in Suhum, which led to the arrest of the accused person and eventual sentencing of the culprit to 10 years imprisonment with hard labor. This case was presided over by Her Ladyship, Justice Effia Addison at the Suhum Circuit Court on 10th March, 2021.[24]
Personal life[edit]
Afasi Komla is married to Lydia Ohenewah Afasi-Komla. They have 5 children: Princess Afasi, Nelly Afasi, Raphina Dzifa Afasi, Rihanna Elikem Afasi, and Ravina Edinam Afasi. He is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "ENA supports Ahiagbakope with potable water". ABC News Ghana. 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Coverghana.com.gh (2020-08-02). "Modern Slavery: Engage Now Africa holds dialogue with stakeholders at Tefle". Coverghana.com.gh. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Engage Now Africa organizes Community stakeholders forum on modern slavery at Pediatorkorpe". The Independent Ghana. 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "ttt-article-1 – African Global Networks". Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Afasi Komla | Engage Now Africa". engagenowafrica.org. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ "ABOUT | Engage Now Africa". engagenowafrica.org. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Commonwealth 8.7 Network | Our Team". Commonwealth 8.7. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ "Equity International School". equityinternationalschool.org. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ fnadmin. "about". Freedom Network International (FNI). Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ "Engage now Africa dialogues with stakeholders in Tefle on 'modern day slavery'". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
- ↑ "4 Kids Rescued From Human Trafficking". DailyGuide Network. 2022-04-03. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ Ababiopeter (2021-07-21). "Ada: 10 trafficked kids rescued, reunited with families". Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ "ENA rescues 14-year-old girl from trafficking, forced labour". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2020-12-28. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
- ↑ "Fours kids rescued from human trafficking – THENEWSROOMONLINE". 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ "Human Trafficking: 4 Kids Rescued By Police And Social Welfare - Vim News Ghana". 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ "Engage Now Africa rescues 5 trafficked children at John Teye - African Entertainment". theliveupdate. 2022-03-23. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ "ENA rescues 14-year-old girl from trafficking, forced labour". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2020-12-28. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
- ↑ "E/R: NGO rescues 13-year-old girl from child labour and trafficking". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
- ↑ "End Modern Slavery rescues four boys being trafficked from Eastern to Central Region". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-03-05. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ "Child labour: 14 children rescued and reunited with their families". GhanaWeb. 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ "Six Year-Old Boy Neglected And Starved Over Witchcraft Accusations -". 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ Waves, Ghana (2020-08-25). "16-yr-old girl rescued from forced labour in Ada". Ghanawaves. Retrieved 2022-05-04.
- ↑ "Suhum: Farmer jailed 15 years for sexually abusing 12-year-old daughter". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-01-14. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
- ↑ "Eastern Region: Imam jailed 10 years for defiling 12-year-old girl". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2021-03-22. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
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