Women's participation key to national development – Gender Minister

Government has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive governance and women’s empowerment, emphasising that sustainable national development cannot be achieved without the full and effective participation of women in leadership and decision-making.

The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, made this statement when she represented the Vice President, Her Excellency Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, at the 5th Annual Leadership Conference organised by the Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) under the Female Future Programme Ghana (FFPGH).

The conference, held on the theme “Leading from Top: Executive Responsibility Beyond Strategy,” brought together captains of industry, development partners, women leaders, and policymakers to deliberate on ethical leadership, accountability, and inclusive governance.

Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey commended the Ghana Employers’ Association for sustaining the conference platform since 2022 and for championing inclusive leadership through the Female Future Programme, which she described as “one of the most impactful leadership interventions in our national discourse on women’s advancement, corporate inclusion, and gender-responsive leadership.”

She stressed that leadership must move beyond rhetoric and symbolic commitments to deliberate, measurable, and transformative action.

“Leadership is not merely about occupying positions of authority; it includes creating opportunities for others, breaking systemic barriers, and ensuring that institutions reflect the values of fairness, inclusion, competence, and accountability,” she stated.

The Minister further highlighted the importance of gender inclusion in leadership, noting that organisations that embrace inclusion and gender parity are often more innovative, resilient, and productive.

The Female Future Programme Ghana, launched in 2019 with support from the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, is aimed at equipping women with leadership and boardroom competencies.

Since its inception, the programme has trained hundreds of women across both public and private sector institutions, with many participants advancing into higher leadership and decision-making positions.

The conference also featured a panel discussion on ethical leadership, networking sessions, and the graduation of participants from Cohorts 9 and 10 of the Female Future Programme Ghana.