The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu constituency, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has commended award-winning Ghanaian actress, Jackie Appiah for her philanthropic efforts in Mepe, a traditional area in the Volta Region of Ghana.

The actress, through her Jackie Appiah Foundation empowered 120 young individuals in the community which recently experienced flooding due to the Akosombo Dam Spillage with intensive training in various vocational skills. 

On Tuesday December 5, 2023, the screen goddess celebrated her 40th birthday in Mepe, where she had the opportunity to witness the graduation of these individuals who have acquired vocational skills in areas like hair dressing, beauty therapy, welding, cake making, tye and dye designing, dress making and soap making.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the trainees, Hon Ablakwa, who has recognized the transformative impact of the vocational training, praised Jackie Appiah for her immense effort to see the wellbeing of these individuals and the community as a whole. He described Jackie’s gesture as a touching one, adding that the training will play a major role in the re-development of the town  following the spillage which led to the displacement of hundreds of individuals in some parts of the North Tongu District. 

“Today is a joyous occasion. We have been brought together because of the dynamism, the compassion, the kindheartedness, the industry and vision of one person and that is an individual that the country is very proud to have produced. she is an icon for many people and for those of us who have female children she remains an ever towering role model for our young girls to eminent.

“Her gesture is indeed a touching one. She could have decided to adopt an easy road where she comes in, donate relief items and in less than 30 minutes she’s done she walks away and we never hear from her again. I’m not saying that doing that is not appreciated. We certainly appreciate all those who have walked in no matter how brief, to give us items. But Jackie decided to go beyond just giving the people fish, she decided that she will teach us how to fish and when you are taught how to fish you don’t wait for the benevolence of others you don’t have to wait you don’t have to sit idle and expect kindness of others to take care of you,” he said. 

The lawmaker continued by saying; “Jackie empowered us and we can also be independent and we can also begin to put our lives back on track despite the disaster that struck since September the 15th now we have in our community people who are going to be certified today that they can either be dressmakers, tye and dye producers, makeup artist, Bakers welders and the list is endless.” 

Jackie Appiah has made it a tradition to give back to society on her birthday every year as she donated a 10-unit modern public toilet (water closet) and other gift items to the people in her hometown, Ejisu-Abenkro in the Ashanti Region last year.