Tamale, 7 February, 2026 – HOPin Academy, a leading hub in entrepreneurship , innovation and community development in Northern Ghana, is pleased to announce an important leadership milestone. We are honoured to welcome Mr. Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu, Executive Director of STAR-Ghana Foundation, as our new Chair of the Board of Directors. He succeeds Mr. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, who guided the Academy through a period of growth and impact.
This milestone reinforces our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of corporate governance and robust strategic oversight.
Mr Amidu is a social development expert with three decades of experience spanning development management, civil society leadership, social policy influencing, and institutional and organisational strengthening. Currently pursuing a PhD in Social Policy at the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Amidu holds both a Master’s degree in Social Policy from the Centre for Social Policy Studies and a Bachelor’s degree in Administration from the School of Administration, both at the University of Ghana, Legon.
By leveraging his expertise, Mr Amidu aims to guide our strategic path that aligns with deepening our role in Ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and shaping policies that support startups and innovation. Furthermore, he aims to establish and foster partnerships that will drive community-driven development and maximise our influence within the region.
“It is an honour to take on this role at this pivotal phase of the Academy. HOPin is a catalyst for entrepreneurship, innovation and youth development in Northern Ghana and I look forward to working with the Board, management and partners to strengthen governance, deepen partnerships and ensure our programmes are not only innovative but scalable and sustainable”, he expressed.
The Board and management are confident of a new phase that reflects HOPin Academy’s strategic direction, steady leadership, and impact. MacCarthy Mac-Gbathy, Founder of HOPin Academy highlighted, “We are excited to welcome Mr. Amidu as our new Board Chair. His track record in social development aligns with Hopin’s mission to empower entrepreneurs and young innovators. We believe his guidance will help us scale our programmes to reach more underserved communities and strengthen our partnerships with the government, the private sector and international organisations”
In addition, the Academy celebrates Mr. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi as he steps down as Board Chair after five years of dedicated service. He brought to the Board a strong background in ecosystem building, innovation policy engagement, and institutional development. From 2021 to 2025, Mr Adu-Gyamfi, along with the Board, played a pivotal role in strengthening HOPin Academy’s governance frameworks, enhancing strategic oversight, and strengthening accountability and learning systems.
Caption: Mr. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi during the board transition meeting, February 2026
Notable milestones during his tenure include: the expansion of enterprise support programmes, stronger ecosystem convening, and the establishment and opening of the HOPin Innovation Centre in Tamale, further anchoring the organisation’s role as a regional innovation hub. These efforts positioned HOPin Academy as one of the most impact-driven innovation organisations in Ghana, with growing national relevance and strong roots in Northern Ghana.
As a youth-focused innovation and entrepreneurship organisation, HOPin looks forward to this new chapter with renewed commitment to expanding pathways for youth empowerment, innovation, and inclusive development.
About HOPin Academy
The HOPin Academy was founded in 2013 as a youth-led digital skills initiative. Over the years, the academy has evolved into a leading technology and business innovation hub with operations in three regions across Northern Ghana. HOPin has supported over 500 startups and MSMES and equipped over 10,000 youth with digital and entrepreneurial skills. The academy continues to lead in youth innovation, entrepreneurship and community development in Northern Ghana.
