AKADi Magazine spotted three British Ghanaians whose work with disenfranchised communities attracted MBE nominations in this year's King Charles' Birthday Honours List. Two accepted the award and one declined it.
Sarah Lamptey
Sarah, who is also a presenter on BBC Morning Live, received the Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to homeless people. She established ShowerBox in 2018 to increase access to showers for people living on the street with the creation of a mobile shower unit.
Sarah explained on her ShowerBox website: ‘…I met Andrew McLeay, who runs the Ealing Soup Kitchen. He told me that he’d known of individuals who had passed away from preventable illnesses on the streets, simply because of an inability to get clean. Other homeless workers discussed the stigma received in public by not having the opportunity to maintain good personal hygiene.’
Charlie Dark
Charles Emmanuel Williams (Charlie Dark), founder of community organisation 'Run Dem Crew' (RDC), DJ and community activist received an MBE for his services to running and to young people.
According to the RDC website, the organisation 'works closely with young people across London providing mentoring and advice along with the opportunity to explore London in a safe, unique, positive and supportive environment.'
Kwajo Tweneboa
Another British-Ghanaian, also working to improve the lives of disenfranchised communities in the UK, was nominated for an MBE but declined the award.
In part of a public statement, social housing activist Kwajo Tweneboa said that he 'could not accept such a title knowing that avoidable housing issues that impact some of the UK’s most vulnerable and which led to the deaths of 72 people at Grenfell Tower, remain unresolved.'
The Honours list recognises some of Britain’s unsung heroes with awards.
Are there any other British-Ghanaians that we have missed? Let us know in the comments.
Read more about previous award recipients and Lady Phyll Opoku-Gyimah who rejected her award.
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