The collective
Wholly youth-run. Close to the people we are building for.
Aya Minds is led by a collective of organisers, clinicians, researchers, and creatives — most of them Ghanaian, all of them close to the youth mental health work we're here to do.
The collective
We are a wholly youth-run team working across mental health, medicine, law, finance, technology, communications, and creative industries. Every person who built this organisation is a current student or early-career professional — that is not a coincidence, it is a deliberate choice. We are close to the people we are building for because in many ways we are those people.
Meet the team · 11
Agnes Nmabila Azalimah
Founder and Executive Lead
Agnes is a Ghanaian policy researcher, human rights consultant, and mental health advocate working at the intersection of governance, social welfare, and community development. She holds a BA in International Relations, Cum Laude, from Knox College, Illinois, where she minored in Creative Writing. She is completing her MSc in International Social and Public Policy at LSE as a Programme for African Leadership Fellow, with a dissertation examining how media narratives shape institutional responses to mental health among young adults in Ghana. Her experience spans CDD Ghana and the Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy at the University of Ghana, with certifications in Human Rights Consultancy and WHO Foundations of Mental Health.
- LSE
- PfAL Fellow
- Policy
- Human Rights
- CDD-Ghana
Osbert Tidakabi
Medical and Mental Health Lead
Osbert is a medical doctor based in Ghana with experience in clinical practice and community health. His work reflects an understanding that health outcomes are shaped by access, environment, and sustained community support. He is particularly interested in early mental health intervention and how culturally grounded approaches can reach people before challenges escalate. At Aya Minds he leads on psychologist vetting, clinical oversight, and the organisation's health and wellbeing frameworks.
- Medical Doctor
- Community Health
- Clinical Practice
Maxwell Akrasi
Finance and Strategy
Maxwell is a Ghanaian-British entrepreneur and MSc Real Estate Economics and Finance candidate at LSE. He holds a BSc in Business Administration from Ashesi University and an MSc in Business and Finance from Warwick Business School. Growing up in a family business in Ghana gave him a deep grounding in strategy, trade, and finance. At LSE he co-founded the African Business Society and writes Philosophy of Change, a newsletter on transformation in Africa. At Aya Minds he leads on financial strategy and sustainability.
- LSE
- Ashesi
- Warwick
- Finance
- Strategy
James Papa Owusu Ankomah
Mental Health and Advocacy
James is a Ghanaian working at the intersection of social welfare, mental health, and advocacy. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Ghana and worked in academia and healthcare before pursuing further study. He is currently completing an MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology at LSE, with a focus on mental health stigma, identity, and inclusion. He is committed to destigmatising mental health and queerness in Ghana and beyond. At Aya Minds he contributes to peer support frameworks and the organisation's advocacy approach.
- LSE
- Psychology
- Advocacy
- Mental Health Stigma
Samuel Osei-Amponsah
Technology Consultant
Samuel is a masters student in Climate and Sustainability Engineering at Duke University and an Okta Nonprofit Technology Fellow. He is a Climate Communications Fellow, a Local Pathways Fellow in New York, and the co-founder of Ecoclime Africa, where he leads sustainability innovation and community-led climate action. At Aya Minds he provides technology consulting, supporting the team in building digital systems and infrastructure.
- Duke University
- Nonprofit Tech
- Sustainability
Laureen Larkuor Darko
Legal and Governance
Laureen is a legal practitioner known for delivering thoughtful, results-driven legal solutions. She holds an LLB from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and completed her professional training at the Ghana School of Law, gaining experience at the Legal Aid Commission in Accra and S.K. Boafo and Co. in Kumasi. She is currently an Associate at Gwira Legal Consult in Takoradi — one of the oldest law firms in Ghana, established in 1919 — while pursuing a Masters in Corporate and Commercial Law at the University of Ghana. Outside her legal work she has a strong interest in mental health policy and human rights, operates a bakery business, and dabbles in writing.
- KNUST
- Law
- Governance
- Human Rights
Phyllis Anne Kuteesa
Communications and Media
Phyllis is a communicator with hands-on experience managing social media and public relations for student organisations. She has developed and executed content strategies across platforms, producing posts, videos, and promotional materials that engage audiences and drive event visibility. Her degree in Mathematics and Statistics brings a data-informed approach to her work, using engagement patterns and audience behaviour to shape content decisions. At Aya Minds she leads on content strategy, social media, and digital engagement.
- Communications
- Social Media
- Content Strategy
Tiah Alidu
Creative Director
Tiah is an integrated creative director, filmmaker, and brand strategist based in Accra with over a decade of experience across broadcast radio, film and television production, and integrated marketing. He has built content and campaigns that reach mass youth audiences through culturally grounded storytelling, bringing both strategic thinking and a practitioner's instinct for how to reach people where they are. At Aya Minds he leads on brand, visual identity, and all creative output.
- Film
- Accra
- Creative Direction
- Brand Strategy
Dede Ayeh
Programmes and Community Outreach Coordinator
Dede is an Accra-based project manager and coordinator working at the intersection of sustainability, mental health, and social justice. With extensive experience organising community-focused initiatives and events, she excels at mobilising both online and on the ground. As a feminist activist, her work centres on the wellbeing of marginalised communities — a passion she now brings to her role at Aya Minds, where she leads on programme and operations coordination, donor outreach, and community mobilisation.
- Community Outreach
- CSOs
- Project Management
Evelyn Essuman
Events Coordinator and Partnerships
Evelyn is a youth empowerment and humanitarian professional with experience across social impact, innovation, and leadership. She served as a Transition Facilitator with CAMFED / Mastercard Foundation, is a Mental Health Social Worker, and the founder of an event brand that has created meaningful youth employment. She is an SDG Innovation Challenge finalist with the Melton Foundation, serves as African Representatives Coordinator for the AYF Directorate, and is engaged in climate negotiations spearheading a renewable energy initiative. At Aya Minds she leads on events coordination and institutional partnerships.
- CAMFED
- Mastercard Foundation
- Youth
- SDGs
Amparo Goodman Mensah
Operations and Logistics
Amparo is a transport logistician and entrepreneur specialising in transport management and efficient resource utilisation. She holds an International Diploma in Logistics and Transport and a degree in Marketing and Chinese. She has built a career in the logistics industry while running her own brand, StyledbyOra, gaining experience in customer operations and branding. At Aya Minds she leads on operations, ensuring programmes and events run smoothly from planning through to delivery.
- Operations
- Logistics
- Transport
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