Former Black Stars captain André Dede Ayew has called on Ghanaian schoolchildren to take their education seriously while developing strong moral values, describing them as the future leaders of the nation.
Ayew made the remarks on Friday when he joined the Miss Ghana Foundation’s nationwide youth mentorship programme at Martey Tsuru Presbyterian Junior High School in Accra. More than 300 pupils participated in the initiative, which focused on patriotism, empathy, resilience, compassion, and civic responsibility.
According to the former Ghana captain, he did not hesitate to honour the invitation from Miss Ghana Foundation Chairperson, Inna Patty, Esq., because he believes in initiatives that positively shape the lives of young people.
“You are the future of Ghana. You need to take your studies seriously, be smart, work hard and care for one another. A strong nation is built when its people love and support each other,” Ayew told the pupils.
He further stressed that academic success should always be accompanied by good character, kindness, and respect for others.
“School is important, but being human and understanding other people is even more important. I see the next presidents, ministers, footballers and leaders sitting here today. The future of our nation is in your hands, so you must be willing to work hard,” he added.
The mentorship programme forms part of the Miss Ghana Foundation’s flagship Beauty with a Purpose initiative. Contestants of the Miss Ghana 2026 pageant also interacted with the pupils, encouraging them to become responsible citizens while promoting empathy, patriotism, resilience, and compassion.
The outreach also received support from award-winning actress Jackie Appiah, who donated cartons of bottled water and soft drinks for the pupils, while A1 Bread provided refreshments during the event.
Chairperson of the Miss Ghana Foundation, Inna Patty, expressed appreciation to André Dede Ayew for dedicating his time to inspire the pupils. She reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to extending the youth mentorship programme across all sixteen regions of Ghana to nurture responsible future leaders.
This year’s Miss Ghana pageant marks the 69th edition and is being held under the theme “Empowering Women, Enduring Legacy.” The competition is organised by Exclusive Events Ghana with support from Multimedia Ghana and several corporate organisations committed to youth development and women empowerment.
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