Our advisory panel
Dr Thomas Yeboah
Dr Thomas Yeboah is an esteemed Research Fellow and Lecturer at the Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. With a PhD in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge, UK, Dr. Yeboah brings nearly a decade of experience focusing on the dynamics of household, gender, and generational relations within rural development and migration. His research critically examines the complex socio-cultural aspects of children’s labour and the nuanced differences between benign and exploitative forms of work. Dr Yeboah’s insightful studies into children and youth’s labour migration are pivotal in understanding their roles in both rural and urban economies, particularly their decisions, journey experiences, and the social and spatial mobilities they navigate.
Before his current role at BIRD, Dr. Yeboah contributed significantly as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Trust, Peace, and Social Relations at Coventry University, UK. There, he was integral to the EPSRC-funded Humanitarian Engineering and Energy for Displacement (HEED) project, which collaborated with engineers and social scientists to enhance community resilience among Congolese refugees in Rwanda and internally displaced persons in Nepal. His robust expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods has made him a sought-after consultant for various development-oriented organisations. Recently, Dr Yeboah has led research on the ECOWAS free movement protocol, exploring the diverse experiences of migrants in Ghana, and investigated the engagement of youth in commercialised rural economies across Africa, emphasising the importance of effective interventions to foster rural youth employment.
Dr Yeboah recently collaborated with researchers from the University of Ghana to undertake a research project focusing on trafficking in persons into, within and out of Ghana, investing the causal factors, incidence and nature of trafficking as well as the impact of COVID-19 on trafficking in persons.
Marriam Mwiza
Marriam Mwiza is a Ugandan anti-human trafficking activist and the founder and executive director of Overseas Workers Voices Uganda (OWVU). Her organisation advocates for the rights and protection of migrant workers, with a particular focus on Ugandan domestic workers in the Middle East.
Marriam’s activism began in 2017 after a video circulated on WhatsApp showing a Ugandan woman held against her will in Jordan. She successfully raised funds to secure the woman’s release and repatriation, an experience that sparked the creation of OWVU. Since then, she has worked tirelessly to combat trafficking, support victims, and demand justice.
In 2019, she campaigned for accountability in the case of a Ugandan woman killed by her employers in the Middle East. Her advocacy contributed to Uganda’s first-ever conviction of a trafficker. Marriam continues to challenge traffickers, expose exploitative labour practices, and hold systems of power to account.
Her work has gained international recognition. In 2022, she was named an Obama Foundation Leaders Africa Fellow. She was also featured in the 2025 BBC documentary Death in Dubai, which highlighted the abuse and exploitation of Ugandan women in the Gulf. Marriam frequently speaks to global media outlets on the dangers of modern slavery and the urgent need for reform in labour migration systems.
Fearless in her approach, she has openly criticised the Ugandan government for its weak regulation of labour export companies and pressed the judiciary to deliver timely justice for trafficking victims.
As an advisor to the Hope Education Project, Marriam brings deep frontline experience, a strong advocacy record, and a passionate commitment to protecting vulnerable communities from exploitation
Ophelia Allotey
Ophelia Allotey is a dedicated advocate for gender and menstrual equity, as well as sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Her career has been focused on improving access to menstrual products and reproductive health education, especially for marginalized and hard-to-reach communities.
She provides free community paralegal services to girls and women facing gender-based violence, helping them access justice while preserving trusted relationships and family values. Her services include assistance with medical care, psychosocial support, and legal aid as needed.
Ophelia has distributed over 500 menstrual products and reached more than 1,000 young people with comprehensive SRHR information. She is also a strong advocate for policy changes, such as removing taxes on sanitary pads and including menstrual products in universal healthcare coverage. Her efforts have been recognized by various media outlets.
Through her relentless work, Ophelia challenges the stigma surrounding menstruation and empowers young people to take control of their sexual and reproductive health. She is a true champion for menstrual justice and gender equity.
Ophelia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the African University College of Communications and has completed programs in advocacy, media relations, and gender studies.
She is inspired by the quote from Steve Maraboli, “The empowered woman is powerful beyond measure and beautiful beyond description.
Sara Pownall
With nearly three decades of experience in migration and a keen focus on human trafficking, my career has been significantly shaped by my engagements, particularly over the last 20 years in Africa. My initial role with the UK government, aimed at disrupting illegal travel using forged documents, brought me face-to-face with the early challenges of human trafficking at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. This experience, at a time when human trafficking was not as globally recognized as it is today, underscored the complexity of the issue. Living in West Africa has not only deepened my understanding of the drivers behind migration but has also highlighted the critical shortage of reliable information for those considering migration, despite the known risks of labor exploitation and human trafficking.
Since transitioning from the UK government, my work with the United Nations, specifically with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), has broadened my perspective on migration and human trafficking. In these roles, I have focused on advising on project content, implementation, and the comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of initiatives aimed at addressing human trafficking. This experience has equipped me with a holistic understanding of the migration landscape, enabling me to effectively communicate the complexities of human trafficking and migration to potential migrants and external stakeholders, fostering impactful collaborations and driving significant outcomes in the global fight against human trafficking.