Bahass Foundation
Jump to content: |
![]() |
ABOUT
Bahass Foundation started operation in 2004 as a volunteer community group in the Wa municipality. It was founded to assist & improve the lives of people living with mental illness on the streets of Ghana’s Upper West Region.
![]() The Executive Director of Bahass Foundation keenly observed a volunteer dressing up a mental health patient at the 2019 World Mental Health Day
|
Bahass was founded by Mr. Eliasu Baba Yussif, a herbal medicine practitioner, out of the need to serve mentally ill people living on the streets ignored, without families, unfed, unclothed, and untreated in the Wa municipality. Currently, the organization serves about seventy-five mentally ill people in the Wa municipality, of which fifty-seven are living on the streets and eighteen living with their families. Eight of the fifty-seven mentally ill are living with HIV/AIDS. Bahass Foundation now engages in several projects including creating awareness of mental health, drug abuse, HIV/AIDS, and livelihood empowerment through Village Saving and Loans Groups in Agriculture (VSLA) in three other districts in the Upper West Region. OBJECTIVES
|
FOCUS
CORE VALUES
|
![]() A mental health patient was taken for a bath during the 2018 World Mental Health Day
|
PAST PROJECTS
Systematic Mentally Ill Rehabilitation Program
The foundation feeds, treats, and cloths patients every fortnight, registering seventy-one patients to the National Health Insurance Scheme. This has led to the total recovery of three patients, who have united with their families.
World Food Program on Food for Training
Through the World Food Program (WFP) on Food for Training, Bahass Foundation was able to create mental health awareness in ten communities in the Upper West Region.
IMPACT
From 2004 to 2023, about 500 terminally ill persons have benefited from the foundation.
|
![]() A female volunteer helping to clean up a mental health patient |
![Some Volunteers at the 2021 World Mental Health Day celebration held in Jirapa Municipality of the Upper West Region](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0272/2335/9533/files/244422802_4684506954913722_9042184020277158547_n_600x600.jpg?v=1674614120)
Some volunteers at the 2021 World Mental Health Day celebration held in Jirapa Municipality of the Upper West Region
CURRENT PROJECTS
Currently, the Bahass Foundation is mobilizing funding for the Bahass Mentally Ill Rehabilitation Centre Project (MRCP). The initiative includes the donation of a bag of cement or GHC97.00 (as equivalent to a bag of cement) for the Mental Home Project.
The foundation has also earmarked awareness creation on the use of tramadol and related substances.
PARTNERS
- Ghana Education Services (Schools)
- Ghana Health Services (Health facilities)
- District Assemblies (MMDAs)
- Donor Agencies
- Local NGOs
- Women Groups
- Community Leadership
- Queen Mothers
- Market Women
- Philanthropist
- Religious Bodies
- Media
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
ELLIASU BABA YUSIF
![Eliasu Baba Yusif](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0272/2335/9533/files/unnamed_3.png?v=1674616267)
Eliasu Baba Yusif was born on July 15th, 1974. He is a native of the Dondoli community, a suburb of the Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region of Ghana. He was born in the post-independent era of Ghana. He is a distinguished personality, social entrepreneur, an Islamic influencer, politician, farmer and an icon in the world of philanthropy. He has over 20 years of background in social service, community development and mentoring young people.
Yusif completed all his basic school in the Wa Municipality of Ghana's Upper West Region. He attended the primary Primary and Junior High schools in the Wa Municipality: Kabanye E/A Primary and Junior High School. He proceeded to the Lawra Senior High School and completed in 1994. His year group is the second batch of the A level; the secondary school concept introduced by the Rawlings-led government at the time.
Despite his academic exploits, the rising cost of attaining higher education affected Yusif's dream of realizing a university education. Remarkably, even though he did not proceed further, he ventured into private business and has since become a household name in the world of entrepreneurship, philanthropy and youth development.
Eliasu Baba Yussif's life is built on Islamic values and scholarly ethics. His mindset towards supporting a worthy course such as standing and supporting the disadvantaged necessitated him to establish Bahass Foundation. He has been volunteering in creating an opportunity for young people and caring for the mentally ill throughout the Upper West Region. He has spent over a decade in charity works and philanthropy.
Honours: Undoubtedly, Eliasu Baba Yussif could be described as one of the most decorated social entrepreneurs in the Upper West Region and an accomplished personality. He has received many citations of his excellence and works regarding caring for the mentally ill. Prominent among them include a feature in 'Zain Touching Lives' (2011), a Ghanaian humanitarian television programme. Yusif is a three time recipient of the Citation of Honour, given by the Youth Achievers Awards, and organized by the Upper West Regional Directorate of the National Youth Authority (NYA). He has also been a two time recipient of a Citation of Honour by the Hope Foundation. In 2020, he received an honourary award for Media Development from the Upper West Media Award Magazine, for his contribution to media development in the Upper West Region.
CONTACT
Main Office
Near Kedge Lodge (Dokpong)
Opposite: Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans
Email: bahassfoundation36@yahoo.com
Facebook: Bahass Foundation
Tel 1: +233 (0) 244690159
Tel 2: +233 (0) 207631793
Post Office Box, 263
Wa - Upper West Region