Dr Samson Darrah, an alumnus of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi pursuing his PhD at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA has been recognized with the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts – The Diana Award.

Dr Darrah was honored with this award during a virtual ceremony, for going above and beyond in his daily life to create and sustain positive change.

Established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Award is given out by the charity of the same name and has the support of both her sons, HRH The Prince of Wales and Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex.

Samson’s interest in social change began during an outreach programme in Ghana, where he encountered students struggling with undiagnosed visual impairments and girls using unsafe materials for menstrual protection. This sparked his creation of ‘iCare Network Ghana’, which addresses healthcare gaps through more than 250 volunteers.

His focus on visual impairments and period poverty is rooted in dignity and opportunity – both issues create barriers to education that are both physical and rooted in social stigma. By providing eye screenings and menstrual health support to persons in underserved communities, ‘iCare Network Ghana is improving education, opportunity, and dignity across Ghana.

Commenting on the award, Dr Darrah said: "Receiving the Diana Award is an incredible honour, and I am humbled to be recognized among so many young change-makers from around the world. This award is not just for me but for the dedicated team of volunteers and supporters at iCare Network Ghana who work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of those in need. This recognition reinforces my commitment to continue addressing healthcare disparities and advocating for dignity and opportunity for under-served communities. I hope it inspires others to believe in the power of youth leadership and to take action in their communities to create meaningful change."

The Chief Executive Officer of The Diana Award, Dr Tessy Ojo CBE highlighted that the award exemplifies the belief that young people possess the power to effect meaningful change.

“We warmly congratulate our new Diana Award Recipients from across the world who are dedicating their time to making positive change. These young people demonstrate that young people have the power to change the world; a belief also held by Diana Princess of Wales. We know by receiving this honour they will inspire more young people to get involved in their communities,” she said.

Diana Award Recipients have been nominated by adults who know young people in a professional capacity and want to recognize their efforts to make a positive contribution to society. All Diana Award Recipients have dedicated a minimum of 12 months to leading positive social change through a variety of activities from campaigning and education to fundraising to delivering services.

In 2024, there were over 80 volunteers representing over 30 countries, who came together in panels, read through and marked each nomination against five key criteria: vision, social impact, inspiring others, youth leadership, and social action journey.

Each judging panel consisted of at least three judges who understood the value of young people, including one young person representative. The panels have an important main purpose: to determine which nominations will receive the Diana Award.

This year The Diana Award received over 1700 nomination submissions, making this the most competitive year yet.