Brad Howard, Incoming Chair of the Board at Rotary Action Group For Family Health & AIDS Prevention (RFHA), is a member of the Rotary Club of Oakland Uptown. With four decades of Rotary service, Brad brings deep experience, global perspective, and heartfelt commitment to RFHA’s mission. Read on…


In a small community called Kokrobite in Ghana, Brad Howard was given a title that would reshape his relationship with service: Nii Arde Anum II —chief of development in the Kokrobite Ga tribe. It wasn’t a symbolic gesture. The honour was rooted in gratitude for his role in helping establish a much-needed health clinic in a village of 50,000 people with no prior access to medical care.

It also marked a turning point in his Rotary journey.

“I joined Rotary in 1985 at the insistence of my father, who was a Rotarian and the District Governor at the time. He wanted to start clubs for younger people—breakfast clubs were popular then and he kept encouraging me to start or join one,” shares Brad. 

What began as a way to support his father’s vision quickly grew into something much more meaningful. With each passing year and new responsibility, from club president to youth exchange programme leader to District Governor, and eventually as a member of the 2015-2017 Rotary International Board of Directors, Brad found himself more deeply connected to Rotary’s mission of how service impacted people’s lives and the profound impact it had on communities.  .

Still, it wasn’t until a district initiative in 1998 that Rotary truly changed the course of his life.

A Life-Changing Trip to Ghana

“In 1998, my district decided to raise money for a Polio National Immunization Day, focusing on one country: Ghana. The Interact Clubs raised $17,000, and inspired by that, the rest of the district raised $175,000 in just six weeks.

“Later that year, I led a group of 68 people to Ghana—a trip that became a turning point for me. I met a Rotarian whose club wanted to build a health clinic in a community of 50,000 people with no access to healthcare. The project needed $50,000, and our young Rotary club was just getting started. But after spending two days with the community, I realised we could do this and together, we made it happen. The clinic was commissioned in 2000,” shares Brad. 

The community made Brad a chief in the Ga tribe, complete with a title and traditional approval. “There was a real weight of obligation, and I felt it deeply.” 

“From there, I started taking more people to Polio National Immunization Days in Ghana and other countries in Sub-Saharan West Africa and India. I saw how these trips transformed the people I brought. Many came in afraid of a foreign place and left with a changed perspective. That’s when I understood the true value of Rotary, not just the impact on communities, but the transformation of its members,” adds Brad.

Stepping into Leadership at RFHA

Today, Brad serves as the Incoming Chair of the Board for RFHA, a role he approaches with both passion and purpose.

“RFHA is at an inflection point,” he says. “What started as a passion project is becoming a structured, sustainable organization. Externally, my vision is to ground RFHA in a sustainable economic model. Right now, we operate grant to grant. That’s not sustainable. We are working to strengthen our partnerships, especially with the private sector, so we can consistently deliver healthcare and scale our services.”

“Internally, we are focused on strengthening governance and operations. We also need to support operations, since we are still lean on staffing. We are also building our advisory board council into a more defined, active body with medical and foundation expertise that complements the main board. Our goal is long-term sustainability, not just delivering healthcare for five years, but becoming a foundational part of healthcare in Africa.”

“Our CEO Sue Paget brings in amazing opportunities - from governments, companies, and funders. As a board, our job is to help her vet and prioritize those opportunities. The right partner brings more than funding—they bring alignment, impact, and sustainability,” he says.

Advocating for Inclusive Leadership

Brad has also been an advocate for women in leadership within Rotary. He was the aide to Past RI President Jennifer Jones, Rotary International’s first female president, during her year of service.

“Jennifer was warm and strong. She inspired people to lead,” he says. “I have always believed that women often bring balance, empathy, and long-term thinking. We need more of that.”

He acknowledges Rotary still has work to do. The RFHA board, for instance, is actively working to bring more women into leadership roles.

RFHA’s gender-intentional healthcare grant is a key priority for Brad. He stresses the need for a culturally sensitive approach. “You have to show value, build trust, and let change come from within. That’s what we aim to do—sensitize local Rotary clubs, partner with female healthcare workers, and engage community leaders with respect. This grant gives us a platform to lead that conversation and model inclusive healthcare delivery.”

Looking Ahead

What excites Brad most about RFHA’s future is its potential. “We have the leadership, the partnerships, and the model. Now it’s about scaling with integrity. And on a personal level, this work has changed me. I have learned so much from being part of RFHA. I work with brilliant people. I feel deeply connected to Africa and its communities. I get to grow while helping others and that’s a rare and meaningful gift.”

“Honestly, it’s the opportunity to affect hundreds of thousands of lives. That’s the kind of impact most people only dream of,” concludes Brad.