Life & Work with ANTHONIETTE KENNIES OFORI of CAPE COAST, GHANA

Today we’d like to introduce you to ANTHONIETTE KENNIES OFORI.

ANTHONIETTE KENNIES, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey is rooted in purpose, leadership, and a deep desire to create meaningful impact.

I am Anthoniette Kennies Ofori, affectionately known as Queen Afedziwa. It started at Ghana National College, where I began expressing myself through writing and speaking. I was known as a revolutionary speaker someone who used words to challenge perspectives and inspire change. But even before that, at St. Monica’s Girls JHS, I had already discovered my affinity for leadership, serving as Head Girl (Domestic). That early exposure to responsibility shaped my confidence and my commitment to service.

In senior high school, I continued on that path, becoming Head Girl (Academic) and serving as SRC Ex-Officio. Leadership, for me, was never about position it was about influence, service, and guiding others toward growth.

A defining moment in my journey came when I encountered a woman who was deeply distressed after five years of infertility. Seeing her pain was heartbreaking, but it also sparked something in me. I became curious and determined to understand more. Through my own research, I realized that with proper preconception care, many such challenges could be managed, and hope restored. That moment changed everything for me it gave my passion direction.

I went on to pursue a Diploma in Midwifery from the Cape Coast Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Ghana became a Registered Midwife, and later advanced to earn a Degree in Midwifery, graduating with First Class Honors from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. My work in healthcare is deeply personal it’s about restoring hope, dignity, and life. I am currently working as a professional midwife at the Cape Coast Health and Wellness Center, Ghana.

Alongside this, my pageant journey became another powerful avenue for expression and impact. Pageantry, for me, was never just about appearance it was about voice, confidence and advocacy. It gave me a platform to amplify the very causes I care about, particularly women’s health, self-worth, and empowerment. Through it, I learned how to carry myself with intention, communicate with influence, and connect with diverse audiences.

Over time, I expanded this vision through my foundation called WITH YOU By Queen Afedziwa Foundation with initiatives such as the Adolescent Reproductive Health and Preconception Care Project, “Welcome to Ghana,” and Miss Central Expo. These platforms allow me to merge health advocacy, culture, leadership, and empowerment especially for young women navigating identity, purpose, and opportunity.

I have also embraced my creative side using storytelling, content creation, and lifestyle platforms to reach a wider audience. I believe impact is not limited to one space, and I am intentional about using every platform available to educate, inspire, and create meaningful change.

Today, I see myself as a multifaceted individual midwife, leader, advocate, creative and pageant queen driven by a vision to make a lasting, positive impact in society. And this is only the beginning.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has not been a smooth one. It has been shaped deeply by both external challenges and internal battles that have refined who I am today.

One of my ongoing struggles has been navigating uncertainty and pressure. There have been moments where I genuinely questioned what would truly work out for me, and the weight of expectations both from myself and from the paths I was pursuing, sometimes felt overwhelming. In those moments, I found myself wanting to step back, slow down, and lay low just to breathe and regain clarity. It was a constant process of trying to stay grounded while still pushing forward without fully having all the answers.

Another defining challenge came through leadership experiences. Having served in various leadership roles over the years, I was accustomed to responsibility and showing up with confidence. However, one particular election loss became a turning point in my life. I had never envisioned failure in that space, so experiencing it was deeply humbling. It opened my eyes to a different reality that not everything I invest in will end in success, no matter how prepared or passionate I am.

At first, it was difficult to process. But over time, that experience reshaped my understanding of leadership and growth. It taught me resilience, humility, and the importance of identity beyond titles and positions. I learned that leadership is not only about winning, but also about how you respond when things do not go as expected.

Another challenge I continue to face is in bringing some of my initiatives through my Foundation to full realization, particularly my Adolescent Reproductive Health and Preconception Care project. While the vision is clear and deeply personal to me, it has not always been easy to access the needed support, resources, and structure to fully implement it at the scale I envision. Navigating partnerships, sustainability and visibility for such impactful work has been a learning curve and sometimes a frustrating process.

Looking back, these challenges have been some of the most important parts of my journey. They have strengthened my emotional awareness, deepened my sense of purpose, and helped me become more intentional in everything I do from midwifery to advocacy, pageantry, and creative expression.

Today, I see those experiences not as setbacks, but as necessary shaping moments that continue to influence how I show up in the world.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a midwife, advocate, creative, and emerging voice in youth empowerment and women and child health. My professional journey is rooted in healthcare, but it has evolved into something more multidimensional centered on impact, education, and storytelling across different platforms.

I specialize in midwifery, particularly in maternal and child health, adolescent reproductive health, and preconception care. My clinical background has given me a deep understanding of women’s health, but more importantly, it has shaped my sense of responsibility toward education and prevention. I am passionate about ensuring that young women and families have access to the knowledge and care they need to make informed health decisions.

What I am most known for is my ability to bridge healthcare, advocacy, and creative expression. Beyond the clinical space, I use leadership platforms, pageantry, and content creation to communicate health awareness, self-development, and empowerment in ways that are relatable and engaging. Through WITH YOU By Queen Afedziwa Foundation, Initiatives such as the Adolescent Reproductive Health and Preconception Care Project, “Welcome to Ghana,” and Miss Central Expo reflect this intersection of health, culture, and youth development.

What I am most proud of is not just my academic achievement as a First Class Honors graduate in Midwifery, but the ability to translate knowledge into impact whether that is through patient care, community education, or inspiring young people to embrace their identity and purpose.

What sets me apart is my multidimensional approach. I do not see myself as being limited to one field or identity. I combine clinical expertise with storytelling, leadership with creativity, and advocacy with visibility. I am intentional about using every platform I occupy to educate, inspire, and create meaningful change.

At the core of everything I do is a simple vision: to make impact that is both practical and personal, impact that heals, empowers, and transforms lives.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I am very open to collaborations and partnerships that align with my vision of impact, particularly in the areas of maternal and child health, adolescent reproductive health, women’s empowerment, fashion and creative storytelling.

Professionally, I welcome opportunities to work with healthcare institutions, NGOs, youth-focused organizations, and advocacy groups that are committed to improving access to reproductive health education, and maternal and child care. My goal is to use my foundation; WITH YOU By Queen Afedziwa Foundation to expand initiatives such as the Adolescent Reproductive Health and Preconception Care Project into more structured and far-reaching programs, and I am actively open to collaborations that can help bring this vision to life.

On the creative and media side, I am also open to partnerships with brands, platforms, and communities that align with lifestyle, fashion, beauty, culture, and personal development. Through content creation and storytelling, I aim to connect with wider audiences in ways that are both relatable and impactful.

In terms of support, I deeply value mentorship, strategic partnerships, and resource-based collaborations that can help scale my initiatives. Support in the form of visibility, technical guidance, funding, or institutional partnership would go a long way in helping me fully implement and sustain my health and empowerment projects.

At the core, I am intentional about working with individuals and organizations who are purpose-driven and impact-oriented. I believe collaboration is one of the most powerful tools for change, and I am always open to meaningful connections that align with my vision of empowering lives and creating lasting impact.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queen_afedziwa?igsh=NjZ1M25wdXM4b2Iw
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18MgUSab8E/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthoniette-kennies-b604b9192?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@queen_afedziwa?si=1zp9Jd-LxB1FyHS_
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@queenafedziwa?_r=1&_t=ZS-963UpyUUHJ7