The third season of the “Safety-For-All Campaign”, a self-defence and personal safety initiative powered through taekwondo by Accra-based Candance Academy, has been officially launched with a target of reaching 3,000 students across 10 schools in underserved communities this academic term.
The launch event, held at the Accra Sports Stadium, also saw the unveiling of a new instructional book titled “Taekwondo For Us”, authored by the Founder, Executive Director and Lead Instructor of Candance Academy, Hannah Humphrey. Learners at the event treated patrons to an impressive self-defence demonstration, highlighting skills acquired through the programme.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Humphrey underscored the importance of equipping children with the knowledge and confidence to protect themselves.
“Children may not always be able to control their environment, but they can be taught to understand it, navigate it, and protect themselves within it. That is the heart of the Safety-For-All Campaign,” she stated.
She further called on individuals and corporate organisations to support the initiative through partnerships, sponsorships, logistics, and technical expertise to help expand its reach.
Founded in 2019 by the award-winning national taekwondo athlete, Candance Academy has over the years empowered children, private schools and corporate institutions with martial arts skills, while promoting safety awareness among young people.
Ms Humphrey, who hails from Takoradi, developed an interest in taekwondo at an early age and went on to become a multiple national gold medallist. She also represented Ghana at the 2011 African Games in Maputo, Mozambique.
Her inspiration for the campaign stemmed from the tragic kidnapping and murder of several girls in Takoradi in 2018, shortly after she returned to Ghana from a Global Masters Training Programme in South Korea.
With support from instructors at the World Taekwondo Academy in Seoul, the initiative has grown significantly over the years. What began as a small three-day training programme in four basic schools has expanded into a nationwide campaign, training over 1,000 students by the end of Season Two in 2023 through a more direct, school-focused approach.
The programme’s impact has not gone unnoticed, earning recognition from the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), which honoured the initiative with an Award for Dedication and Valour in February 2025.
Further endorsements have come from the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and the National Sports Authority (NSA).
Director-General of the NSA, Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, commended Ms Humphrey for her dedication and described her work as remarkable.
“Her dedication and perseverance is unbelievable. I have utmost respect for Candance Academy,” he said.
He also praised the newly launched book, describing it as user-friendly and impactful.
“The book is written for easy understanding. It makes self-defence an art, not a duty. I will recommend it to parents, schools and institutions to help individuals protect themselves when the need arises,” he added.
Organisers remain confident that the third season of the campaign will further deepen its impact, inspire young people, and strengthen safety awareness across communities in Ghana.
