About Water Solutions for Africa

If you’re among the 9 out of 10 people in the world with reliable access to clean water close to home, consider yourself fortunate. For hundreds of millions across Africa, that’s not the case—and the consequences are felt every single day. Waterborne diseases drain health and energy. Hours spent hauling unsafe water prevent mothers from earning a living and children from attending school. Without water, crops can’t be irrigated, livestock cannot be cared for, and daily survival becomes a constant struggle. Many families walk more than 30 minutes round-trip to collect water - often contaminated.

During our 2024 trip to Ghana, travelers with iZania Travel Services witnessed these challenges firsthand. In Ghana’s Greater Accra Region alone, rapid urbanization has left more than half of the 2.1 million residents without a reliable household water source. Many rely on unsafe water sold by vendors, increasing their risk of deadly illnesses. Rural villages face even greater hardships.

Moved by these experiences, Kent Garrett, co-owner of iZania, LLC, launched a mission to make a tangible difference. Our pilot initiative, the Asebu Nkroful Borehole Project in Ghana’s Central Region, now provides clean drinking water to approximately 3,400 residents. Building on that success, Project #2 in Asaago Village, Ashanti Region, brought safe water to over 2,800 residents, and Project #3 in Sokode Juaso reached 3,500 residents. Our goal is to raise $250,000 to provide water access to 50 villages over the next five years.

Each project begins with water testing and a site assessment. Once a borehole well is drilled, we install a central storage tank and train local villagers to maintain it. Ownership is then transferred to the community elders, ensuring a sustainable, long-term solution.

We are proud to partner with Safe Water Solutions, a local Ghanaian NGO, to identify communities where our efforts can have the greatest impact. All projects are fully funded by Water Solutions for Africa, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing safe water solutions to communities in greatest need.

With your support, we can bring safe water to the communities that need it most—one village, one school, one family at a time.

Kofi Akyene

Kofi Akyene, born on December 15, 1981, is a seasoned Sales Professional with a wealth of experience in the telecommunications and business sectors. A proud graduate of the University of Cape Coast, Kofi began his career with Millicom Ghana Limited (operators of Tigo Ghana), a leading telecommunications company based in Luxembourg.

In 2009, Kofi transitioned to Vodafone Ghana Limited, the second-largest telecom company in Ghana, where he made a significant impact over the next 13 years. During his tenure at Vodafone, he held various key positions until his departure in March 2022.

In May 2022, Kofi joined Multichoice Ghana Limited as the Regional Sales Manager for the Western and Central regions. Over the course of his career at Multichoice, Kofi's exceptional leadership skills led him to oversee eight regions in his current role, continuing to drive growth and success in his region.

Outside of his professional life, Kofi is passionate about golf, currently playing to a handicap of 9. He enjoys cultivating meaningful business relationships and is always eager to expand his network.

In addition to his corporate success, Kofi is also the CEO of Solutions for Safe Water Ghana, an initiative dedicated to providing sustainable access to clean drinking water for rural communities. Under his leadership, the organization has successfully completed three borehole projects in the Central, Eastern, and Ashanti regions, positively impacting the lives of countless individuals.

Kent Garrett

Kent Garrett is a seasoned executive leader and strategic project manager with over four decades of experience guiding complex, multi-million-dollar technology and business transformation initiatives. As an Executive Project Manager with IBM Software Services for Federal, Kent has led cross-functional teams through large-scale federal programs, overseeing budgets exceeding $5 million and ensuring alignment between organizational goals and mission-critical outcomes.

Throughout his tenure, Kent has demonstrated an exceptional ability to unite strategy with execution—delivering solutions across WebSphere, Tivoli, Content Management, and DB2 environments while mentoring diverse teams across the U.S. and abroad. His leadership is defined by integrity, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to client success.

Beyond IBM, Kent is the managing member of AC Garrett LLC, a family enterprise reinvesting natural gas royalties into long-term ventures including real estate development and a borehole water drilling initiative in Ghana. Through these efforts, he demonstrates his passion for sustainable impact, combining business growth with community development. Kent’s leadership embodies stewardship, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence in every endeavor.

Roger E. P. Madison Jr.

Roger E. P. Madison, Jr. brings over 35 years of experience in Information Systems Sales and Service, with a distinguished career at IBM. Throughout his tenure at IBM, Mr. Madison held various senior roles, including Director of Government Sales in South Africa from 1995 to 1998, a pivotal time following the end of Apartheid. He retired from IBM in 2001, having made a significant impact on the company's operations worldwide. Mr. Madison is currently serving as a board member of Junior Achievement of Central Ohio. During his time in South Africa, he also contributed to the academic community as a guest lecturer at the University of Pretoria School of Business.

In 1998, he co-founded the South Africa Outreach Program, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit aimed at supporting disadvantaged South African communities. In 2024, this initiative expanded with the creation of Water Solutions for Africa, a subsidiary dedicated to providing safe water solutions to rural villages in Ghana.

Mr. Madison established iZania Travel Services in 2010, offering travel experiences to Africa and beyond. Originally focused on South Africa, iZania Travel Services now curates trips to destinations including Ghana, Tanzania, Egypt, promoting cultural exchange and tourism in Africa. Trips also include Dubai, and Mediterranean countries.

A native of Farmville, Virginia, Mr. Madison earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the George Washington University School of Business and Government Studies. He and his wife, Joyce, live in Gahanna, Ohio, and are proud parents of two adult children and grandparents to two grandchildren.