Ambassador for a Day 2026: Eight Ghanaian women to shadow Diplomats and CEOs

Eight young Ghanaian women will spend the year shadowing High Commissioners, Ambassadors and Chief Executive Officers as the 2026 winners of the Ambassador for a Day (AfD) competition, an annual leadership and mentoring programme open to young women aged 18 to 24.

The winners, selected from several applicants will each be paired with a mentor and given direct exposure to decision-making in diplomacy, business and public life. Now in its fifth year of the competition, this is the first time that AfD has expanded to include four Heads of Diplomatic Missions and four female corporate leaders.

Despite its name, Ambassador for a Day is a year-long programme in Ghana. Mentors will work with their mentees throughout 2026, identifying opportunities for shadowing, speaking engagements and participation in high-level meetings.

All the 8 finalists will also take part in structured capacity-building sessions covering public speaking, women’s rights advocacy, digital literacy, emotional intelligence and safeguarding.

Winners will visit institutions including the Ministry of Gender, the University of Ghana and women-led businesses to see firsthand the day to day running of these institutions. They will also receive mentorship sessions from female leaders in the media space on a field visit to the EIB Network.

Announcing the winners for 2026 cohort, Dr Christian Rogg, British High Commissioner said:

“When young women see leadership up close, it becomes easier to imagine themselves in those roles and to pursue them. Ambassador for a Day creates that access, connecting emerging leaders with people who can help them navigate the real choices, pressures and responsibilities of senior leadership.

We are proud to deliver this programme with partners across the diplomatic, civil society and the private sectors. For us, success means young women leaving with stronger networks, clearer ambitions and the confidence to apply for opportunities they might otherwise rule out.”

Ibtisam Sualisu one of the 2026 AfD winners said that the Ambassador for a Day (AfD) experience will help her amplify her voice as a young Ghanaian and connect with leaders who are advancing gender equality and sustainable development.

On the theme, Ibtisam observed that “Give to Gain” encourages individuals to look beyond personal interests. When young women intentionally support one another, it fosters the development of communities in which everyone benefits.

Giving is not considered a sacrifice; rather, it serves as an effective strategy for achieving sustainable progress and collective success.

Women remain underrepresented at every level of decision-making in Ghana and around the world. Ambassador for a Day helps address this by giving young women practical exposure to leadership spaces and pairing them with senior mentors to build networks and confidence.

The initiative concludes activities marking British High Commission Gender and Equalities Month 2026 and supports progress towards SDG 5 on gender equality.

An Awards Ceremony and Mentorship Workshop will take place on 22 April at the British High Commissioner’s Residence, where winners will meet their mentors for the first time.

The programme will run through to December, closing with a reflection brunch at the Residence during the 16 Days of Activism.

All activities will take place in safe, vetted locations, with designated safeguarding leads present.

Parental or guardian consent is required for all participants, and mentor organisations have confirmed appropriate safeguarding mechanisms are in place.

The British High Commission thanks the mentors and partner organisations supporting Ambassador for a Day 2026.