GAH Foundation – Who they are and what they do
The Gladys Ayebea Hammond Foundation (GAH Foundation) is a Ghanaian non-profit organisation dedicated to creating opportunities for young people, particularly girls, through education, sport, mentorship and personal development. Inspired by the belief that education has the power to transform lives, the Foundation works to support students from underserved communities and help them achieve their academic and professional ambitions.
The Foundation uses sport, particularly field hockey, as a platform for engagement, leadership development and social mobility. Through school-based activities, tournaments, mentoring programmes and career development initiatives, GAH Foundation encourages young women to pursue higher education, develop confidence and build the skills needed to succeed in future careers.
What began as a programme supporting a small group of students has grown into an initiative reaching thousands of young people across multiple schools in Ghana’s Eastern Region. While girls’ education remains at the heart of its mission, the Foundation’s activities increasingly benefit entire school communities by promoting educational achievement, wellbeing and opportunity.
Guided by its motto, Opening Doors, Igniting Change, GAH Foundation seeks to create pathways through which young people can overcome barriers, realise their potential and contribute positively to their communities.
What NEF Does with GAH Foundation
NextEnergy Foundation is pleased to partner with GAH Foundation to improve access to reliable renewable energy at Suhum Presbyterian Senior High School in Ghana’s Eastern Region. The project forms part of the Foundation’s wider commitment to creating better educational opportunities for young people, particularly girls, through education, mentorship and personal development programmes.
For many students attending schools in underserved communities, unreliable electricity remains a significant barrier to learning. Frequent power interruptions disrupt teaching activities, limit access to ICT resources, affect student welfare and increase operational costs for schools that already face considerable resource constraints. These challenges can have a direct impact on educational achievement and future opportunities for young people.
Serving approximately 2,900 students, Suhum Presbyterian Senior High School plays an important role within the local community as both a centre of learning and a hub for wider educational and community activities.
Through this project, NEF will support a phased solar electrification programme designed to provide a reliable and sustainable source of power for key areas of the school. The first phase will prioritise the administrative block, main classroom block and student dormitories, creating a strong foundation on which future phases can build.
Reliable electricity will strengthen educational and administrative activities, improve student safety, support access to digital learning resources and reduce dependence on grid electricity. The project will also establish a scalable renewable energy platform that can be expanded over time.
The initiative reflects the close relationship between education, opportunity and personal development that underpins the mission of GAH Foundation. By improving the learning environment and strengthening school infrastructure, the project will help create better conditions for students participating in the Foundation’s educational, mentoring and leadership programmes.
Beyond the immediate benefits for the school, the project is expected to strengthen educational provision within the wider community. Improved infrastructure and reliable access to electricity can enhance learning outcomes, expand opportunities for young people and contribute to a more supportive and inclusive educational environment.
Through its partnership with GAH Foundation, NextEnergy Foundation is investing in much more than a solar energy system. By supporting a school at the heart of its community, the project will help create better conditions for learning, mentorship and personal growth, enabling more young people to pursue their ambitions and fulfil their potential.