Williams Ayaaba Akongbabre is a trailblazing Ghanaian educationist, social entrepreneur, and a Creative visionary social leader whose 20+ years of work have redefined education access, teacher training, and community empowerment in Ghana. As the founder of Relcaso Ghana, Willi-Gif College of Arts and Technology, and Willi-Gif Arts Series, Williams has bridged gaps in literacy, Creative Arts education, and social justice, impacting thousands of lives spanning across various segments of the society encompassing: the girl child, orphans, teacher professionalism, special needs children, students, the sick and neglected poor including the marginalized communities.
Early Life and Education
Williams Ayaaba Akongbabre is a talented Artist whose Creative abilities are said to have been bequeathed to him at birth. His Creative flairs manifested during his early ages of about six and nine, as his parents recount that “he was seen demonstrating many creative qualities including creating and inventing moveable toys/robots, impressions on walls, repairing and fixing spoiled jewelries of his mother and that of neighboring women and often had a differentiated mental approach to issues”.
Due to his resourcefulness and novel natures, he attracted crowd of peers around him at play-times during which he displays his inventions skills through Artistic creations his peers treasured and exchanged for coins of money, toffee and other mini valuables.
Williams Ayaaba Akongbabre has since age 13, demonstrated originality over the Arts as his elementary school teachers explained how his natural flairs flew so easily from his understanding of the Arts at the primary school, Junior High School and the Senior High school levels.
After his Senior High school, due to his development-minded, distinguished charisma and love he attracted from many adults in the job space, he got employed with the Non-Formal Education Division (NFED) now Complementary Education Agency (CEA). While working with NFED, Williams continued to practice Creative Arts for commercial and academic purposes and has over the years, demonstrated mastery over the subject due to his natural talent and ‘finesse’ that flow so easily from his teaching of Arts at the Senior High school and primary school levels, as a part-timer.
The passionate Artist is a doer and lover of Arts and a motivational speaker who impacted many lives and produced Artworks especially in the Upper Regions of Ghana as well as some parts of the neighbouring Togo and Burkina Faso.
During this time Williams Ayaaba Akongbabre originated logos and symbols for many institutions, Organizations and associations in Ghana and beyond. He wrote and Published books for use by Ghana schools, he is passionate to seeing children and teachers being Creative and grasping the concepts of Arts for sustainable development.
His academic foundation includes:
- MPhil (Ongoing) University for Development Studies (UDS).
- Bachelor’s Degree in Management Studies: University of Cape Coast.
- Diploma in Management Studies: University of Cape Coast
- (ICA GH) part I: Institute of Charted Accountants Ghana
- Advance Business Certificate in-Auditing: RSA
- Advance Business Certificate in-Economics: RSA
- Advance Business Certificate in-Business Communication: RSA
- Advance Business Certificate in-Financial Accounting: RSA
- General business certificate (GBC) in–Accounting: RSA
- SSSCE: Bawku Senior High School
- BECE: Zebilla JHS
- Primary: Gyampo Krom primary school and Zebilla Primary School
This blend of managerial expertise and grassroots insight laid the groundwork for his innovative approach to education reforms.
Key Achievements: Pioneering Education Reform
1. Revolutionizing Creative Arts Education
- Author of “Self-Teaching” Creative Arts Textbooks and training of teachers on the teaching/learning of Creative Arts.
- Designed to eliminate teacher phobia of the subject.
- Over 7,000 teachers from public and private schools trainedon the teaching/learning of Creative Arts.
- Got Endorsed by the Upper West Regional Education directoratefor supply and training in all basic schools across the region.
- Translated the Ghana new standard-based curriculum into Teacher-Friendly “Action Packs”:
- Curriculum support tools helping teachers/educators and school pupils navigate the Ghana Standard-Based Curriculum.
- Distributed to schools and teachers during the absence of textbooks and the lack of curriculum understanding benefiting10,000+ teachers and pupils across Ghana.
2. Transformative Projects
- Education Quality Assurance Project (EQAP):
- Improved teaching standards and learning outcomes in schools.
- My Life My Right (MLMR):
- Advocated for the sick and neglected poor people: Created equal access to quality health care and provided treatment for sick and neglected including little Umuya Sulemana at Nyivil community in the Sissala West District of the Upper West Region, little Lubabatu at Yanyuoyiri community in the wa east district of the Upper West Region. Abdulai Jabal at Teogo community in Bawku west district in the Upper East Region and many others.
- Innovative Scheme for Small-Scale Farmers and Agroforestry (ISSSFAF):
- Boosted agricultural productivity, sustainability and encourage the plantation of economic trees in Sissala East District in the Upper West Region.
- Scholarship Scheme for Needy Children (SSNeC):
- Funded education for 30+children including victims of the Wa serial killings.
3. Hybrid School Model for Inclusivity
- Established a first-of-its-kind school in Waintegrating:
- Children with special needs in the school community
- Orphans and vulnerable children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Provides free education, meals, and psychosocial support to children in need.
Community Impact: Beyond the Classroom
Williams’ work extends far beyond traditional education, touching every facet of community life:
1. Youth Empowerment
- Radio Mentorship Programs:
- Hosted “The Chronicles of Fr. Abraham”and “Willi-Gif Time with Heuristics” on GN Radio (92.7 FM).
- Trained 100+ youth in public speaking, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills.
2. Economic and Social Justice
- Support for Small-Scale Farmers:
- ISSSFAF provided tools, training, and agroforestry resources to 300+ farmers.
- Healthcare Advocacy:
- Organized medical camps and donated supplies to rural clinics.
3. Grassroots Mobilization
- Serves as acting district director at Complementary Education Agency.
- Served as programme assistant at Complementary Education Agency.
- Served as Zonal Supervisorand Media Officer for the Complementary Education Agency.
- Designed district map to improve monitoring and supervision at Complementary Education Agency.
Media Recognition and Thought Leadership
Williams’ innovations have garnered national attention:
- JoyNews Impact Makers Award: Recognized as 2025 impact marker
- Featured in Ghanaian Education Reports: Recognized for curriculum development and teacher training for improved teacher professionalism
- Radio Shows: Leveraged airwaves to advocate for education reform and youth empowerment.
- Public Speaking: Keynote addresses on Creative Arts Education and social entrepreneurship.
Future Goals: Expanding the Vision
Williams aims to:
- Upgrade the Hybrid School Model to a Boarding Status: Grant scholarship access to orphans from far to reach communities.
- Scale the Hybrid School Model: Replicate it across Northern Ghana.
- Publish More Educational Resources: Expand his “self-teaching” textbook series.
- Launch a Creative Arts Institute: Train the next generation of Ghanaian Artistes, Artists and educators.
- Get sponsorship and donations:
- Scale up SSNePP project to benefit more sick and neglected children and adults.
- Scale up SSNeC project to benefit more needy children and orphans.
- Scale up MLMR project to benefit more people facing various social injustice
- Scale up ISSSFAF project to benefit more small-scale farmers and encourage the plantation of more economic tree in northern Ghana.
How to Support Williams’ Mission
Donate to Relcaso Ghana: Support: the SSNePP project, the SSNeC project, the MLMR project or the ISSSFAF project
- Follow His Work:
- Ticktock: willigif
- Facebook: Relcaso Ghana
- Facebook: Willi Gif
- Facebook: Williams Ayaaba Akongbabre
- WhatsApp: +233-242516550
Conclusion: A Legacy of Innovation and Empathy
Williams Ayaaba Akongbabre embodies the power of Education fused with Creativity, Arts and his re-definition of Ghana’s education. From demystifying Creative Arts for teachers/pupils to building inclusive/hybrid schools for the benefit of children from diverse backgrounds. His work proves that sustainable change begins at the grassroots. In a Region often overlooked, Williams stands as a testament to Ghana’s potential for equitable development.
