Participants at the HACSA London Sankofa Summit
The Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa (HACSA) Foundation has ended its 7th Sankofa Summit, held for the first time in London, securing commitments towards supporting the growth of Tech4Girls Initiative in Ghana.
This year’s event, themed “Honouring the Past, Empowering the Present, Inspiring the Future,” assembled global change-makers to drive progress across Africa and its diaspora, with a spotlight on supporting digital skills training for girls.
Hosted across key venues including the UK Parliament and the Landmark Hotel, the summit united influential figures from politics, business, media, and the arts to address Africa’s most urgent challenges and opportunities.
At a charity gala to climax the three-day summit, the participants demonstrated their commitments to invest in girls and young women through digital skills, leadership, and innovation by investing in the Tech4Girls initiative in Ghana by the HACSA Foundation.
The international guests rallied to raise funds for the expansion of Tech4Girls Initiative which aims to equip underserved girls in Ghana and beyond with critical skills in coding, generative AI, entrepreneurship, public speaking, and leadership.
Funds raised at the gala will support the development of a dedicated Tech4Girls Academy in Accra, a state-of-the-art training facility designed to give young women the tools they need to thrive in the digital economy.
Speaking at the charity gala on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Presidential Advisor Joyce Bawah Mogtari emphasized how initiatives like Tech4Girls are critical to closing the gender gap in science and technology.
“Today, more girls are graduating from our universities than boys. But many are still underrepresented in technology and leadership roles. Tech4Girls gives them the confidence, training, and access to explore new career paths and innovate in spaces they hadn’t imagined before,” she stated.
She commended HACSA for driving the Tech4Girls initiative which falls in line with government’s vision of enhancing digital skills training for the youth, and called on all stakeholders to support the initiative.
For her part, Ambassador Johanna Svanikier, HACSA Founder and CEO, noted that “In today’s digital age, education is no longer just about literacy — it is about digital fluency, innovation, and job readiness. That is why at HACSA, we have invested in the Tech4Girls initiative. We believe coding is the new literacy, and that girls must not be left behind in the future of work.”
The summit was characterized by dialogues sessions featuring key personalities from across the diaspora, including MP Diane Abbott, actor Clarke Peters, DJ and philanthropist Florence “DJ Cuppy” Otedola, and Vice President of Cartier, Bijou Abiola, as well as a fireside chat between legendary photographer James Barnor and actor Hugh Quarshie, celebrated African heritage and storytelling while highlighting the importance of intergenerational dialogue.
The 2025 HACSA Sankofa Summit received endorsements from UNESCO, the Office of Diaspora Affairs, and the Africa Governance Centre, with organizational leadership from UK TV executive Tim Yaw Struthers.
The event underscored HACSA’s mission to bridge the gap between the African continent and its global diaspora, while preparing the next generation, especially girls, for the opportunities of tomorrow.