The 2025 She Builds Conference has amplified renewed calls for increased women’s representation in leadership across politics, academia, and broader society.
Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, urged stakeholders to confront and break down the systemic barriers that continue to hinder women’s progress.
She hailed Ghana’s first female Vice President, Prof. Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, as a symbol of progress and inspiration, encouraging young women to follow in her pioneering footsteps.
The Minister urged stakeholders to envision a Ghana where women and men lead together, institutions mirror the country’s diversity, and women enjoy equal access to land, technology, and markets.
“Moving from margin to centre is not a favour to women. It is justice. It is not symbolic. It is a strategy. For no nation can prosper if half of it falls,” she declared.
Organised by The Academic Woman Foundation, the conference brought together female academics, policymakers, and gender equality advocates under the theme: “Empowerment, Resilience, and Innovation.“
Discussions centered on creating long-term strategies to boost women’s leadership, educational access, and economic empowerment.
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, challenged women to actively embrace leadership roles, warning that rejecting such opportunities could stall the broader movement for gender equity.
“We must achieve at least 30 percent female representation across all sectors,not just in politics, but in every aspect of Ghanaian life.
“We need to nurture more women leaders and managers. Political parties must embrace affirmative action, remove financial barriers to participation, and create a more enabling environment for women,” she stressed.
Founder of The Academic Woman Foundation, Dr. Anatu Mahama, encouraged young women to pursue excellence boldly, armed with courage, purpose, and vision.
“Education is not just a key, it is a master key. Women who learn, lead, and lift others create a ripple effect of change that transforms generations,” she said
Participants also engaged in panel sessions, breakout workshops, and “TED-style Talks” addressing leadership development, entrepreneurship, gender equity, innovation, and the future role of technology in Ghana.
