Uhuru is Swahili for freedom. We believe everyone deserves the chance to develop themselves to the best of their ability, whatever their start in life.
Uhuru4All was founded in 2007 in Shukura, a district of Accra. Mariëtte Deijen, on a visit to Ghana, came together with Abdul Mumuni Sidiq, Iddi Sidiq and Teiko Tagoe (Sly) to start a sewing workshop for school drop-outs. We saw the difficulties some young people face, and decided to do something about it.
From borrowed rooms to a home of our own
We renovated our first location with huge financial support from Mariëtte and donations from people who share our vision. After four years we had to leave because of challenges we met there. Mr Daniel Anabire Ayamga joined us as teacher and manager, and has been in charge ever since.
The training moved from Galilea to Official Town, often under harsh conditions, until in 2013 we could buy a piece of land in Kojo Oku, close to Nyanyano near Kasoa. That is our permanent home. The first phase of the new building is finished; the next step is a first floor for new vocational classes.
How the school keeps running
Since the beginning, the Dutch foundation Basic Care has supported us with a yearly order: sewing clothing for the poorest people in the north of Ghana, through the non-profit Shekhinah Clinic in Tamale, founded by the late Dr David Abdulai and now run by his wife Mariama. The clothes are shared at a Christmas celebration every year.
The order keeps the workshop busy for about eight months a year, and the trainees learn to make all kinds of women’s, men’s and children’s clothing.
Ten years and counting
In 2017 we celebrated our 10th anniversary, with a fashion show by our oldest trainees. A film was made of the celebration, which you can watch on YouTube.
The people
Our team & board
Founder
Mariëtte Deijen
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Mariëtte Deijen first came to Ghana in 2003. With a group of Ghanaian volunteers she helped to build a school in Yaw Sae, 40 km from Sunyani. One of the volunteers was training as a tailor with Iddi Sidiq. Through Iddi she met Mumuni, and in 2007 the idea arose to set up a vocational training for less fortunate young people in Ghana.
It has been a long, hard road to get where we are now. Thanks to our fantastic teacher Daniel and the orders of the Basic Care Foundation, the school keeps growing.
Co-founder & chairman
Abdul Mumuni Sidiq
Oakland, California, USA
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Abdul Mumuni Sidiq was born in Accra, Ghana, and now lives in the United States. He studied Business Management at the Accra Technical Training Center. He is an entrepreneur who likes to link up with like-minded people.
For some years he worked in Nigeria, returning to Ghana in 1996. He trained as an editor and works as a freelancer.
His big dream was to set up a centre for vocational training, to give young drop-outs the opportunity to learn for a better future.
Manager, teacher & treasurer
Daniel Anabire Ayamga
Nyanyano, Ghana
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Daniel was born in Bolgatanga, Northern Ghana. He lost his parents in an accident when he was eight years old.
After primary school he worked as a house help for a Nigerian pastor, where he improved his English. The couple took care of him and enrolled him in a tailoring training at the age of 15. After four years he obtained his tailor's certificate from the NVTI.
Together with a friend, a shoe repairer, he opened his own tailoring shop and within five years built a flourishing business in Dzorwulu, Accra. He lost it when the land under his shop was sold. Mariëtte met him around that time and asked him to become the teacher of our second workshop. Since 2010 he has been the driving force of the sewing school.
In 2019 Mr John Konika, National Deputy Director for Informal Apprenticeship of the NVTI, congratulated Daniel on becoming a Master Craftsperson in dressmaking. A real self-made man!
Secretary
Erica Abekah
Nyanyano, Ghana
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Erica was born in 2002 in Kasoa, Nyanyano. After Junior High she won a scholarship and continued at Potsin T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High, where she led House 1 and was a dormitory prefect. Her dream was to become a fashion designer, so she studied clothing and textiles.
After finishing Senior High in 2020 she was introduced to Daniel and Mariëtte. She trained at Uhuru, graduated in 2025, and is glad to contribute to the future of the school as its secretary.
Board member & senior assistant
Naim “Sully” Suleman
Nyanyano, Ghana
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Sully was born in Obuasi, Ashanti Region. After Junior High he worked as a house help, which he did not like very much. His sister, a seamstress, heard about the Uhuru sewing training. Sully always wanted to be a tailor and work with her, so from April 2015 he followed the training, and he graduated in 2018.
Now he works with his sister in their own shop. He is Daniel's senior assistant: a very reliable right hand. And apart from tailoring, he loves to dance!
Board member
Sakina Ibrahim
Nyanyano, Ghana
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Sakina was born in Damongo, in the north of Ghana, where she finished senior secondary school. Her father is a farmer, and financial problems meant she could not go to university. After moving to Nyanyano she heard about the sewing school from a neighbour. She turned out to be a fast learner, already cutting patterns after four months, and graduated in 2026.
