Angela Mensah-Poku

International Women's Day 2026 Message- From H.E. Lordina Dramani Mahama First Lady of the Republic of Ghana. As we observe International Women's Day 2026, I encourage every Ghanaian to reflect on what you will Give to Gain gender equality. Will you mentor a young woman starting her own business? Will you advocate for your daughter's education as passionately as you do for your son's? Will you support policies that promote equal opportunities in your workplace and community? Always remember that investing in women brings benefits. When women succeed, families flourish, communities thrive, and the nation advances. I am reminded of the profound Akan proverb: "Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenkyiri"; when you forget something and go back for it, it is not forbidden. Together, we must go back and lift every woman and girl we may have left behind, for in their rise, Ghana rises. When we provide opportunities for our market women in Makola, mentorship for our young tech entrepreneurs in Accra, or training for our shea butter producers in the Northern Region, we don't diminish our resources—we multiply our nation's prosperity. I am proud of the progress our country has achieved, including increased interest in and enrollment of girls in STEM education, support for women farmers through cooperative strengthening, and the rise of more women leaders in district assemblies, the corporate sector, and boardrooms. Yet there is still more to be done. Many talented girls continue to drop out of school, capable women still lack access to funding, and many voices are still missing from decision-making processes. The Affirmative Action Bill has created opportunities, and initiatives such as the Women's Development Bank by the Mahama administration will support thousands of female entrepreneurs across our country. Our mothers and grandmothers gave us rich traditions of communal support through "nnoboa" and "susu". We must channel that same spirit toward achieving true gender equality. Give to Gain! God bless our homeland, Ghana!