Give to Gain: Ghana and Africa Celebrate Trailblazing Women and the Push for Gender Equality

Across the African continent, International Women’s Day (IWD) has evolved into a powerful platform for recognizing excellence and advocating for systemic change, largely centered on the recurring theme of "Give to Gain." In Ghana, the 2026 celebrations were headlined by First Lady Lordina Dramani Mahama, who issued a clarion call for national responsibility in achieving gender parity. Emphasizing that investing in women is a vital necessity for the nation’s future, the First Lady highlighted milestones such as increased female enrollment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) while urging the swift implementation of the Affirmative Action Bill and the establishment of a Women’s Development Bank to support female entrepreneurs. These high-level calls for policy reform provide the backdrop for a series of industry-specific advancements where women are increasingly taking the lead.

In the corporate and industrial sectors, female leaders are breaking significant ground in traditionally male-dominated fields. Doris Kwekwor Adjei, Managing Director of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, was recently honored with the Gold Award for Environmental Sustainability at the 11th Ghana Women of Excellence Awards. Her leadership in waste management and her advocacy for a circular economy have set a new benchmark for environmental sanitation. Similarly, in the mining sector, Abena Acheampomaa Ankomah of Newmont’s Ahafo North mine was recognized as the Best Female Miner for 2025. Her work in managing community impacts and social performance underscores the transformative power of inclusive leadership, proving that when women lead in extractive industries, community resilience and operational sustainability thrive.

Despite these individual successes, structural challenges remain, particularly within the media landscape. Research across African media institutions reveals a significant leadership gap, with women occupying only 24% of top management roles despite their growing presence in journalism. Industry experts argue that the transition to digital platforms and AI requires diverse perspectives to maintain public trust and institutional resilience. While figures like Beatrice Agyemang in Ghana and initiatives such as Somalia’s Bilan Media serve as beacons of progress, there is a pressing need for systematic leadership development. This involves creating clear pathways for talent cultivation and embedding leadership training within the governance structures of media organizations to ensure that "giving" mentorship translates into "gaining" institutional strength.

To ensure this momentum continues for the next generation, several mentorship and educational initiatives have taken center stage. Delta Air Lines and JA Africa recently graduated 61 high-potential girls from their LEAD Camp in Accra, inducting them into the "10 Million African Girls" community. Parallel to this, Karpowership Ghana partnered with the University of Ghana’s School of Engineering Sciences to provide practical branding and financial literacy training to female engineering students. These programs, alongside the stories of resilience highlighted in the documentary "She Gives"—featuring advocates like Professor Deborah Atobrah—demonstrate a multi-generational commitment to empowerment. By fostering confidence in STEM and leadership today, these initiatives aim to create a sustainable pipeline of female leaders who will drive Africa’s progress in the years to come.