The Chief and elders of the Jisonayili community, in partnership with the Jisonayili Development Committee, have conferred a chieftaincy title, “Soviela-Naa” on a United States Florida-based computer Engineer, Hank Cantrell.
The title, which literally means “Chief of good ways to success” was to honor the Pensacola, Florida born engineer for his support for the poor and vulnerable in the Ghanaian society, particularly in Jisonayili.
The “Soviela-Naa’s magnanimity was demonstrated in 2005 and 2007 when he first arrived in Ghana and donated 600 US dollars for the support of flood victims. The money was used to purchase 22 bags of corn for affected households in the Tamale metropolis and 12 other households in the Wungu community in the West Mamprusi district.
The Florida philanthropist, during his stay in Tamale, also provided 1,300.00 Ghana cedis to support the Jisonayili Nasara Education Fund (JNEF) in 2007.
Mr. Cantrell was grateful for the love and compassion the people of Dagbon had shown him and promised future collaboration between Florida and the Jisonayili community.
A well-crafted citation which chronicled the work of the former IBM computer engineer was also read to him to encourage other philanthropists with good intentions of assisting the poor.
Portions of the citation read: “In 2014, you donated two bicycles to needy pupils, Mufeeda Bawa and Abibata Adam, to aid their education, the people of Jisonayili and the two will forever remember you.”
