Ayine Akolgo

Ayine Akolgo is an emerging insightful scholar, informed academic, art enthusiast, critic, curator, pastor, conference speaker, disability rights activist and social entrepreneur, with multifaceted abilities and resourcefulness for knowledge production and social transformation. He holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in African Studies and Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Sociology with Study of Religions, both from the University of Ghana. Currently, he is a second year PhD student at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana. Ayine is an epitome of academic excellence and exceptional strength of mind and character. His first book, “Artistic Representations of Gender,” is an academic monograph published from his MPhil thesis, that presents an in-depth analysis of the art and symbolisms of Sirigu and their gendered identity and worldview. He has a couple of other publications to his credit. Until his recent appointment as Assistant lecturer with the University of Education, Ayine was a Senior Curator at the Bolgatanga Regional Museum. He is a member of the American Anthropological Association (AAA) and of the Arts Council of the African Studies Association (ACASA). He is a beneficiary and Fellow of the Life Course Transitions and Trajectories of Persons with Disabilities in West African Societies (LICOT-WASO) project” and is researching for his PhD on “Representing disability challenges and rights in domestic and public spaces through art.” He was also a beneficiary and Fellow of the Mwalimu Nyerere African Union Scholarship Scheme for persons with disabilities in 2014/2015. In 2010, he was a Community Xchange participant between Bolgatanga and Plymouth, UK, a professional development programme for community leaders, activists and workers, managed by the British Council and VSO. He has experience in the public service, private and NGO sectors. He is a founding member and Executive Secretary to the Board of Directors of Witty Minds Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) duly registered and operating in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, with a vision to inspire, mentor and raise smart leaders in every field of endeavor with an unquenchable pursuit of transformative progress and prosperity. He is also the Board Secretary of Disability not Inability Foundation (DNIF), a NGO in Accra that seeks to help people with diverse forms of disability (especially children) to acquire knowledge and skills through education, training and entrepreneurship. He is married and together with his wife Lydia, they are blessed with three wonderful children, Ashlyn Yinemalia (girl, 11years), Amram Yinemalisom (boy, 6years) and Aadne Yinesakiya (boy, 2years).