Daintowon Domah Pay-Bayee over the weekend, was one of 32 Africans drawn from across the Continent who were honored by an internationally acclaimed Ghanaian non-governmental organization, Relevant Achievers Impacting Nations (RAIN).
She was honored in the ‘Leadership Category’ for her contributions to youthful leadership, including in the areas of persons with disability. Pay-Bayee is the current Chairperson/Executive Director of Liberia’s National Commission on Disabilities (NCD).
The event was the 2023 Edition of the Prestigious Annual Predecessors Awards (PAPA), a sequel to its maiden edition from last year, a press release from the Liberian Embassy in Accra says.
During the colorful, well attended ceremony, held at the Underbridge Event Center in Accra, Paye-Bayee, in acceptance of her award, dedicated it to the Liberian Leader, her mother, persons with disability around the world, as well as to all Liberians:
She said, “I present this award to my mother, who was able to take care of a child with disability from age 5 and today I’m standing here. I also want to present this award to the President of the Republic of Liberia, George Manneh Weah, who saw the best in me and appointed me as an official of government.”
She continued, “I present this to persons with disabilities across the world. Disability is not inability once you give us the support. We don’t want to be by the roadside and begging, but because there is lack of empowerment and lack of accessibility, that’s the reason why we become a liability to society.”
The widely traveled young Liberian official told her audience that the award is also presented to Liberians in the Diaspora and everywhere: “This has given me strength and a strength to people with disabilities, that in spite of our conditions, we can definitely make a difference.”
Speaking earlier, the founding president of the PAPA, Ralp Antwi, remarked that the PAPA is an annual honorary awards hosted in various continents under the Appreciation Project, to celebrate predecessors from various walks of life who have left their footprints in the sands of time.
“What makes this honor unique is that it goes beyond the plaque, which is only a token of appreciation. We have a whole richly packaged item for all the awardees, including the writing, publishing, and launching of books for all of them. We encourage each of them to pick one project and the team will help them to facilitate that,” Antwi added.
This year’s edition is being held under the theme: “Legacy: Impart before you depart.” The Accra Event was the Africa-Edition. The Europe-Edition was held in July, 2023 in Strasbourg, France, while the America-Edition is slated to hold in November, 2023 in Florida, the United States of America.
The PAPA Worldwide was conceived ten years ago and initiated in 2022, with a maiden edition that was held in Ghana, with 25 honorees.
