Founder and Executive Director of the African Foundation for Premature Babies and Neonatal Care (AFPNC), Selina Bentoom, has been honoured with the Community Development Award at the 2026 Forty Under 40 Ghana Awards. She received the award on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at the ceremony held at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra.
The event brought together young leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs and change-makers from different sectors to celebrate their achievements and contribution to Ghana’s development.
The awards recognized young people under the age of 40 who have made an impact through their work, professional achievements, and community service. Selina’s recognition in the Community Development category highlighted the growing importance of work that directly improves the lives of people and communities.
Selina’s work with AFPNC is rooted in a personal experience that changed the direction of her life. In 2015, she gave birth to a premature baby boy weighing 1.4kg and spent a difficult period caring for him in and out of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Her son survived, and the experience led her to research the challenges faced by premature babies and their families in Ghana and across Africa. In October 2015, Bentoom established AFPNC to become a voice for premature babies, newborns, and their families.
Today, AFPNC works to improve the lives of preterm and newborn babies through advocacy, education, support and collaboration with parents, healthcare professionals, researchers, and other stakeholders. The organisation promotes better care for premature babies and supports families who often face emotional, medical and financial challenges. One of its key initiatives is the Purple Basket Project, which provides essential items and support to mothers of premature babies, particularly families who may struggle to afford the basic things their babies need.
For Selina Bentoom, the Forty Under 40 Community Development Award is a recognition of years of work driven by one simple belief: every baby deserves a healthy start in life. The award also brings attention to the important work being done by AFPNC to improve newborn care and give families of premature babies hope and support.
As Selina continues to lead the Foundation’s work in Ghana and across Africa, the recognition stands as a reminder that one personal experience can grow into a movement that makes a difference in many lives.
