OUR TEAM
Ferdinand Quayson - Founding Director
Ferdinand Quayson was born in Accra, Ghana, where he completed his basic and secondary education. In 2016, he moved to the United States to pursue his undergraduate studies at Wesleyan University on a full scholarship. During his first year, he founded Young Achievers Foundation Ghana (YAF Ghana) to bridge the education access gap for low-income students in Ghana.
Since its founding, YAF Ghana has grown under Ferdinand’s leadership into one of the largest college access nonprofits in Africa, supporting more than 300 students to secure over $80 million in scholarships to attend top universities around the world. In addition to scholarships, the foundation provides leadership training, community service opportunities, and career development to prepare students to thrive as global citizens.
Ferdinand is a graduate of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, where he earned his Master in Public Affairs. He now serves full time as President of YAF Ghana, guiding its vision, growth, and global partnerships to expand educational opportunity for underserved students in Ghana.
Ezra Burstein - Creative Writing Instructor
Ezra has been teaching YAF Ghana’s creative writing class for the past five years. Ezra studied English literature and writing at Wesleyan University, and since graduating
Ezra has taught elementary education at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia. Ezra’s approach to teaching writing is systemic, technical, and based in identifying and building concrete skills. Ezra believes that anyone, if equipped with a strong toolbox of skills and techniques, can write effectively by discerning and articulating personal goals for their writing.
Ezra has also worked with students one-on-one for the past seven years as a private writing tutor.
Cynthia Akalpokbila Anaba - Assistant Program Manager
Cynthia is a graduate of Ashesi University, where she earned a degree in Accounting and Finance. A social change architect with a strong passion for climate change adaptation, she applies systems and design thinking to bridge cultural divides and spark community innovation. Her journey as a Global Citizen began through programs such as the Kennedy Lugar Youth Exchange and Erasmus+, where she fostered connections with people from across the globe. These experiences continue to fuel her commitment to building a more sustainable and adaptable world.
At YAF Ghana, Cynthia serves as Assistant Program Manager, where she brings her leadership, communication, and organizational skills to support the foundation’s mission.
Julian Tweneboa Kodua
- Alumni Fellow
Julian grew up in Ghana and went on to graduate from Yale University with a degree in Computer Science. He is currently a Software Engineer at Microsoft, where he works on designing and building innovative technology solutions. As an Alumni Fellow with YAF Ghana, Julian brings the valuable perspective of a former scholar to the ongoing development of the foundation’s programs, particularly in alumni engagement and mentorship.
Julian also serves as President of the YAF Ghana Alumni Board, where he has played a pivotal role in mobilizing and strengthening the alumni community. His leadership has been central in creating opportunities for alumni to give back, support current scholars, and shape the future direction of the organization.
Paul Adu
– Alumni Success Coordinator
Paul is an electrical engineer by training and the founder of Teksi. He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Physics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering at Boston University, with a focus on Embedded Systems and VLSI.
As Alumni Success Coordinator at YAF Ghana, Paul supports the professional growth and career development of alumni, helping to strengthen connections between graduates and the broader YAF Ghana network. Passionate about leveraging science and engineering to drive entrepreneurship, Paul is committed to using innovation to solve meaningful problems and to create lasting opportunities for YAF Ghana scholars and alumni.