Ghanaian community development advocate and governance activist, Gladys Otae Addo Osei, has received international recognition for her work in leadership and social impact. She was honoured with the Global Excellence Award for Change Maker in Leadership and People’s Development at the 2025 Leaders Without Borders International Forum held in Windhoek, Namibia.
The award acknowledges individuals making significant contributions to leadership development, social empowerment, and community resilience. Ms. Osei was recognised for her efforts in promoting youth and women’s empowerment, governance advocacy, and local development initiatives across Ghana.
Ms. Osei is the Founder and Executive Director of the Maralitha Care Foundation (MCF), a non-profit organisation that supports young people, women, and children through mentorship, skills training, and entrepreneurship programmes. The organisation has carried out several community-based projects focused on education, small business development, and livelihood support.
Beyond her foundation work, Ms. Osei has played an active role in local governance. She previously served as the Assembly Member for the Ogbojo Electoral Area in the Adentan Municipality for eight years and later represented the Women’s Caucus of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), where she advocated for greater female participation in local government.
At the Windhoek event, which brought together business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from around the world, Ms. Osei delivered a presentation titled “Leading with Purpose: How SMEs Can Shape a Greener and More Inclusive Future.”
Speaking after receiving the award, Ms. Osei described the honour as motivation to continue mentoring young leaders and promoting inclusive growth. “This recognition is a reminder to keep raising leaders who lead with purpose and empathy,” she said.
Ms. Osei, who has a background in human resource management and leadership, is also a leadership coach and public speaker. She continues to work with emerging leaders and community groups to build capacity and promote sustainable development in Ghana and beyond.