Higher Ground: Faith and Spirituality as Levers for Change
Speakers
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Imam, Individual Religious Leader
Imam Muhammad Hussaini Bagnya is currently a TV Presenter for the IQRA SHOW, Ghana's number one Islamic flagship show which passes on TV 3, a Ghanaian television networks for the past decade, he has honorably lead presented and interviewed a cross section of religious leaders (Christians, Muslims and traditionalist), Muslim business wo/men and entrepreneurs delving into socio – religious issues which aim to inform and educate viewers of all religious and social motivations.
In 2012, he served as a radio presenter for the Al-FIjiri Breakfast Show on Marhaba FM also in Accra, where he captivated listeners with his ability to get to the bottom of issues affecting the poor, the weak and the marginalized particularly in the "Zongos" as the predominant Muslim communities as referred to. he virtually brought God in the middle of all social equations whether he was dealing with Politics, Development, Human Rights to name a few.
From 2009 to 2012, Imam Muhammad Hussaini Bagnya served as an Imam for the Asoma Banda Mosque, a leading mosque in Accra where he led as prayer leader and conducted sermons in Arabic and English. during these times, he changed the paradigm in sermon delivery as all things contemporary were considered worthy to be sermonized.
Muhammad Hussaini Bagnya has worked as a liaison officer for the Islamic Council for Dev. & Humanitarian Services (ICODEHS) in Accra where he Organized and coordinated ICODEHS’ conferences countrywide in Ghana. He also worked for Al Rayaan International School, a UK registered school as an Administrative Manager in Accra, Ghana.
A true advocate for the rights of women and children who have spoken on several platforms in this regard. he holds an M.Phil in Governance and Leadership where his thesis focused on Islam and Women Leadership. Imam Muhammad is a strong believer in the power of sports particularly soccer, a strong supporter of Chelsea FC, married and a proud father of a daughter.
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Office of the President, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace
Fr. Michael Czerny S.J. entered the Society of Jesus in English Canada in 1963, and was ordained in 1973. He did graduate studies at the University of Chicago in an inter-disciplinary programme in humanities, social thought and theology and earned the doctorate in 1978.
Dr. Czerny was the founding director of the Jesuit Centre for Social Faith and Justice, Toronto (1979 – 1989). After the 1989 assassination of the Jesuits at the Central American University (UCA) in San Salvador, he became Director of its Human Rights Institute (1990 – 1991) and Vice-Rector of the UCA (1991). For 11 years Michael served as Secretary for Social Justice at the Jesuit General Curia, Rome (1992 – 2002). In 2002, he founded the African Jesuit AIDS Network (AJAN), which assists Jesuits to respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic; he directed AJAN for 8 years.
Since 2010, Fr. Czerny has been working with Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, as advisor or counsellor in all areas of service offered by the President’s Office.
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Dr. Sakena Yacoobi is the President & Executive Director of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), an organization she founded in 1995 in response to the lack of education and health care that the Afghan people faced after decades of war and strife. Dr. Yacoobi is also the President & Executive Director of Sakena Fund formerly known as Creating Hope International (CHI).
Dr. Yacoobi has established 352 Learning Centers, four schools, a hospital, and a radio/ TV station in Afghanistan and is the recipient of six honorary doctorates including from Princeton University. Each year, Dr. Yacoobi speaks at numerous events, conferences and at institutions such as the UN, Stanford University and Oxford University. Dr. Yacoobi particularly enjoys engaging with youth at schools, inspiring them to be globally minded citizens. Most recently in 2022 in response to the devastating fall of the nation, after the Taliban took over; Girls once again banned from schools, Dr. Yacoobi’s AIL staff with her
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As Chief Program Officer for Last Mile Health, James guides programs that strengthen community health systems, upskill the community health workforce, and deliver community-based care and treatment in Liberia, Malawi, Ethiopia, and Sierra Leone. He also oversees Last Mile Health’s key influence initiative, Africa Frontline First, which aims to improve the design, durability, and amount of community health financing coming from government, philanthropy, and multi-lateral institutions.
Prior to joining Last Mile Health, James served as a Principal on the Portfolio & Investments Team at the Skoll Foundation and led the Foundation’s relationship with a $40M portfolio of current Skoll Awardees. Before Skoll, James led the Lwala Community Alliance, a health and development organization known for its community approach to increasing child survival, skilled delivery rates, and access to HIV care in rural Kenya.
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Molly is the Founder & Creative Director of Tostan, an NGO which implements a holistic, 3-year empowering education program in national languages that has engaged over 2,500 rural African communities in democracy, human rights, health, literacy, & project management skills. The program has led to over 20,000 rural women holding leadership posts & over 9,000 communities in 8 African countries publicly declaring their commitment to abandon harmful traditional practices. Tostan has received international recognition for their successful work including: The Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Prize, The Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, The Thomas J. Dodd Prize in International Justice & Human Rights & UNESCO’s King Sejong Literacy Prize. Prize. A New York Times best-selling book by Aimee Molloy, However Long the Night, vividly relates Molly and Tostan's story. They are also featured in Melinda Gates's book, Moment of Lift and Hillary and Chelsea Clinton’s: The Book of Gutsy Women.
