Lordina Mahama Reaffirms Commitment to Women’s Empowerment at 30th OAFLAD Summit

Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama, has reiterated her commitment to advancing women’s empowerment, health, and education across Africa during the 30th Summit of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) held in Addis Ababa.

Addressing fellow First Ladies at the high-level gathering, Mrs. Mahama expressed her full support for OAFLAD’s Building Resilience Campaign, noting that improving access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities for women remains central to sustainable national development.

She emphasized that the well-being of women and children directly impacts the strength of families and the progress of nations.

“When women and children are healthy, families are stronger and nations thrive,” she stated.

Mrs. Mahama highlighted the interventions of the Lordina Foundation, which has provided free health screenings and treatment to thousands of women, children, and the elderly across Ghana. She added that the Foundation has constructed three modern maternity and children’s wards at Bole District Hospital, Nkoranza Municipal Hospital, and Bodom Health Centre, with another facility nearing completion at Asukawkaw.

Looking ahead to 2026, the First Lady said efforts would be intensified to empower women engaged in small and medium-sized enterprises, aligning these initiatives with government programmes such as the 24-Hour Economy policy and the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank.

She stressed that economic empowerment for women has a multiplier effect on families and communities.

“When we empower a woman economically, we empower an entire family and uplift an entire community,” she noted.

Mrs. Mahama also underscored the importance of education in unlocking opportunities for young girls, revealing support for 40 underprivileged junior high school girls through a partnership with the Merck Foundation’s educational initiative.

Her remarks reinforced Ghana’s ongoing commitment to advancing gender equality, improving maternal and child health, and creating sustainable opportunities for women as a pathway to inclusive national development.