Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) conducted a premier of their Television program...

17th Aug 2022 | Source: APO Group

Senator Dr Rasha Kelej during her visit to Ghana

“Because I want to Be” TV program was launched by the Office of First Lady of Ghana and Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com) at the same time; Merck Foundation “No More Diabetes” song and New Children Storybook, “Sugar Free Jude” launched by Merck Foundation; Merck Foundation met their Alumni from Accra, Ghana to network and discuss their scholarship issues; during the launch, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej also felicitated the winners of Merck Foundation ‘More Than A Mother’ and ‘Mask Up With Care’ Media Awards 2021 and ‘More Than A Mother’ Fashion Awards 2020 & 2021.

CEO of Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany launched “Our Africa” TV Program during an exclusive premiere in Ghana. “Because I Want to Be” TV Program by The Office of the First Lady of Ghana was also launched during the same premier.

‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ is a pan African TV program that is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation to feature African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various domains with the aim to raise awareness and create a culture shift about wide range of social and health issues across Africa. The show is co-hosted by Brian Mulondo from Uganda.

The TV program is being broadcasted on GH One TV Ghana, LNTV Liberia & AYV Sierra Leone and posted on all social media channels of Merck Foundation and TV channels. “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” was also broadcasted on KTN Kenya and NTV Uganda.

“I am very happy to be here in Ghana and launch “Our Africa by Merck Foundation”, a first-of-its-kind TV program that is set to be the voice of the voiceless and break the silence about many critical and sensitive social and health issues in Africa like Breaking Infertility Stigma, Importance of early detection & prevention of Diabetes, Supporting Girl Education, Ending Child Marriage, Stopping Gender-Based Violence, promoting a Healthy Lifestyle, Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Coronavirus Health Awareness, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Sustainability, and many more”.

“I have always believed that Fashion and Art are powerful tools to address and raise awareness on pressing and sensitive social and health issues in our beloved Africa and beyond. Fashion and Art have a purpose beyond just entertainment and looking good and we must make the most out of these platforms to advocate for the causes we work towards every day. Hence, I came up with the idea of this informative yet entertaining show. The TV program is doing extremely well and is receiving a lot of love from its audience and also our social media followers”, added Dr. Kelej.

The show is broadcasting on the following TV channels:

- Every Sunday @ 2 pm on (GMT) GH One TV, Ghana; re-runs on Monday @ 1:30 pm (GMT)
- Every Saturday @ 6 pm (GMT) on LNTV, Liberia; re-run on Sunday @ 4:30 pm (GMT)
- Every Wednesday @ 4.30 pm (GMT) on AYV, Sierra Leone

“Because I want to Be” TV Program was also launched by the Office of the First Lady of Ghana in partnership with Merck Foundation, as part of the "Educating Linda" program. This program helps young girls who are unprivileged but brilliant to continue their education.

During the ceremony, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation also launched a Song - “No More Diabetes” sung by Cwesi, a popular singer from Ghana; and also a Children’s Storybook – “Sugar Free Jude”. “I am very excited to present to you Merck Foundation’s new song – No More Diabetes and a brand new children’s storybook – Sugar Free Jude, both have been launched with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness on the early detection and prevention of Diabetes. I hope everyone likes this song and enjoys reading this new Storybook”, said Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Listen to the song here: https://bit.ly/3C5K217

Read Sugar Free Jude storybook here: https://bit.ly/3PsepSf

Merck Foundation in partnership with the First Lady of Ghana has provided scholarships to more than 100 young doctors from Ghana in critical and underserved specialties such as - Oncology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Human Assisted Reproduction and Embryology & Fertility specialty and much more.

Moreover, during the ceremony, Merck Foundation CEO also felicitated the winners of Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition “More Than a Mother” 2021 and Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021 & 2020 from Ghana. She also announced the Call for Applications for 2022 awards in partnership with Ghana First Lady, announced the Call for applications for their 8 important awards for Ghanian Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.

Winners from Ghana in partnership with The First Lady of Ghana, H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO & Ambassador of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” campaign are:

MERCK FOUNDATION MEDIA RECOGNITION AWARDS “MORE THAN A MOTHER” 2021

PRINT CATEGORY WINNERS:

FIRST Position:

Dzifa Tetteh Tay, The Spectator, GHANA

SECOND Position:

Jonathan Donkor, Ghanaian Times, GHANA
Efia Akese, The Mirror, GHANA

THIRD Position:

Yaw Asirifi-Twum, Freelance Journalist, GHANA

ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERS:

FIRST Position:

Zadok Kwame Gyes, Daily Graphic / Graphic Online, GHANA

SECOND Position:

Neta Kris Abiana Parsram And Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah, Multimedia Group Limited, GHANA
Benedicta Gyimaah Folley, Ghanaian Times, GHANA

THIRD Position:

Agnes Opoku Sarong, New Times Corporation, GHANA

RADIO CATEGORY WINNERS:

FIRST Position:

Nyadror Adanuti Nelson, Diamond FM, Tamale (Northern Region), GHANA

MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERS:

SECOND Position:

I have always believed that Fashion and Art are powerful tools to address and raise awareness on pressing and sensitive social and health issues

Akua Oforiwa Darko, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GHANA

THIRD Position:

Beatrice Senadju, Ghana Broadasting Corporation, GHANA

MERCK FOUNDATION “MASK UP WITH CARE” MEDIA RECOGNITION AWARDS 2021

PRINT CATEGORY WINNERS:

FIRST Position:

Dzifa Tetteh Tay, The Spectator, GHANA

SECOND Position:

Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyema, New Times Corporation (Ghanaian Times/The Spectator), GHANA
Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah, The Spectator Newspaper, GHANA

THIRD Position: