The First Lady of Ghana, Lordina Mahama, has called on Ghanaians to take meaningful actions toward advancing gender equality as the country marks International Women’s Day 2026.
In a message shared on her official Facebook page, Mrs. Mahama encouraged citizens to reflect on what they can personally contribute to empower women and girls across the country.
She urged individuals to support gender equality by mentoring young women starting businesses, advocating for equal education opportunities for daughters and sons, and promoting fair policies in workplaces and communities.
“Investing in women brings benefits. When women succeed, families flourish, communities thrive, and the nation advances,” she stated.
The First Lady referenced a well-known Akan proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenkyiri,” meaning it is never wrong to go back and reclaim what has been forgotten, emphasizing the need to uplift women and girls who may have been left behind.
Mrs. Mahama highlighted several areas where empowering women can transform communities, including providing opportunities for market women in Makola, mentoring young tech entrepreneurs in Accra, and supporting shea butter producers in the Northern Region.
She noted that Ghana has made progress in women’s empowerment, citing increased enrollment of girls in STEM education, stronger support for women farmers, and the rise of more women in leadership positions across district assemblies and corporate boardrooms.
However, she stressed that more work remains, pointing out that many girls still drop out of school and many capable women struggle to access funding and decision-making platforms.
Mrs. Mahama also expressed optimism about the impact of the Affirmative Action Act and proposed initiatives such as the Women’s Development Bank under the John Dramani Mahama administration, which aims to support thousands of female entrepreneurs nationwide.
She concluded by encouraging Ghanaians to revive traditional support systems like “nnoboa” and “susu” to strengthen collective efforts toward gender equality.
“Give to Gain,” she said, adding, “Together we must lift every woman and girl we may have left behind, for in their rise, Ghana rises.
