First Lady Lordina Mahama Urges Ghanaians to ‘Give to Gain’ Gender Equality on International Women’s Day 2026

First Lady of Ghana, Lordina Dramani Mahama, has called on Ghanaians to take deliberate actions to promote gender equality as the country joins the global community to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026.

In a message to commemorate the occasion, the First Lady urged citizens to reflect on what they can contribute to help advance the empowerment of women and girls across the country. According to her, meaningful progress toward gender equality requires collective effort from families, communities, and institutions.

Mrs. Mahama encouraged Ghanaians to support women in practical ways, including mentoring young female entrepreneurs, advocating strongly for girls’ education, and promoting equal opportunities within workplaces and communities.

“Always remember that investing in women brings benefits. When women succeed, families flourish, communities thrive, and the nation advances,” she stated.

Drawing inspiration from Ghanaian culture, the First Lady referenced the Akan proverb “Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenkyiri,” meaning it is never wrong to go back for something that has been forgotten. She said the proverb reminds society of the need to revisit and uplift women and girls who may have been left behind in development.

Mrs. Mahama noted that empowering women across various sectors—from market women in Makola to young technology entrepreneurs in Accra and shea butter producers in the Northern Region—will strengthen the country’s overall prosperity.

She also acknowledged progress Ghana has made in recent years, particularly the increasing interest and participation of girls in STEM education, improved support systems for women farmers through cooperatives, and the growing presence of women in leadership roles within district assemblies, corporate institutions, and boardrooms.

Despite these achievements, the First Lady emphasized that significant challenges remain. She pointed out that many girls still drop out of school, numerous capable women struggle to access funding, and women’s voices are still underrepresented in decision-making processes.

Mrs. Mahama highlighted recent policy efforts aimed at addressing these challenges, including the implementation of the Affirmative Action Bill (Ghana) and the proposed establishment of a Women’s Development Bank by the administration of President John Dramani Mahama. The initiative, she said, is expected to provide financial support to thousands of female entrepreneurs nationwide.

She further encouraged Ghanaians to draw inspiration from traditional systems of communal support such as “nnoboa” and “susu,” which have historically helped communities work together for collective progress.

Ending her message with the theme “Give to Gain,” the First Lady urged the nation to renew its commitment to building a society where every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive.