Growing Up in Bonkame
Mary Edem Ayensua's journey toward founding Tribeless GH Heritage began long before the organisation itself existed. It began in a small village called Bonkame in Ghana's Eastern Region, where she spent her childhood.
Growing up in Bonkame meant learning early that opportunity was not always evenly distributed. Like many children in rural communities, Edem and her classmates walked several miles each day to and from school.
Textbooks were considered a luxury. In many classrooms, the few books available were given to teachers, and students had to sit in groups hoping for a chance to read from them. Children from wealthier families could travel to Koforidua to purchase textbooks — for the rest, obtaining one often required doing small jobs to raise money.
"Education challenges were only one part of the reality she witnessed growing up."
Witnessing Stigma & Broken Systems
In many communities, women who experienced antenatal or postpartum mental health difficulties were often misunderstood. Instead of receiving care, some mothers were labelled as witches or accused of spiritual wrongdoing.
Young people struggling with depression or emotional distress were often told their experiences were the result of curses or spiritual attacks. Access to professional mental health services was extremely limited, and stigma prevented many from seeking help even where services existed.
Edem also observed the difficult conditions many mothers faced when giving birth. In some health facilities, women and their newborns had to lie on the floor — not because beds shouldn't exist, but because hospital beds and essential equipment were broken and left unrepaired.
"As a child, she often wondered why broken equipment could not simply be repaired and sent to facilities that needed it most."
A Personal Loss That Strengthened Purpose
Years later, Edem experienced a deeply personal loss when she gave birth and lost her baby. During that difficult period, she understood firsthand how challenging it could be to seek mental health support.
Even knowing that help existed, she felt the hesitation and stigma that many people experience when considering walking into a mental health facility. That moment strengthened something that had already been growing inside her for years.
A determination to turn her life experiences into solutions that could help others — not through pity, but through practical, community-centred action that addressed the root causes she had witnessed since childhood.
"Her pain became her purpose. Her experiences became the blueprint for Tribeless."
Why "Tribeless"?
The name Tribeless reflects Mary's core belief: that opportunity, compassion, and development should never be limited by tribe, status, or background.
In a country and continent where tribal identity can divide, Tribeless GH Heritage stands for a different vision — communities where every individual, regardless of their origins, has access to opportunity, support systems, and the tools needed to thrive.
The name is both a statement and an invitation — a call to move beyond the divisions that have long held communities back, and toward the collective strength that comes from inclusion, dignity, and shared humanity.
"Communities where every individual has access to opportunity, support, and dignity — regardless of tribe, status, or circumstance."Meet the Founders