Nana Oye Bampoe Addo dedicates award to survivors of abuse

Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration) at the Office of the President, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, has been honoured with the Excellence in Governance Award at the 11th Annual Ghana Women of the Year Honours 2026.

The event, organised by Glitz Africa, was held on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra. It brought together policymakers, business leaders, diplomats, and development advocates to celebrate women contributing to national development across governance, education, media, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.

Receiving the award, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo reflected on her journey in public service, paying tribute to three women who influenced her life and leadership path.

“I stand before you on the shoulders of three great matriarchs in my life,” she said.

She honoured her mother and grandmothers for their resilience, sacrifice, and integrity, describing them as the foundation of her leadership and activism.

She described her public service career not merely as a profession but as a calling.

“For me, governance and leadership have been a quest for justice for the weak and marginalised,” she said.

“It is a passion and an innate desire to put smiles on faces and wipe away tears of despair.”

Her recognition caps a long career in public service, including her tenure as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection from 2013 to 2017. During that period, she championed key legislative reforms, including the Children’s Act, the Domestic Violence Act, and amendments to the Criminal Code.

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She also oversaw the development of national policies on gender, social protection, child welfare, justice for children, and the school feeding programme. Her tenure included the closure of a traditional witch camp in northern Ghana.

Before entering government, she founded the Human Rights Advocacy Centre and served as Africa Regional Coordinator for the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.

She has also served on the World Bank Advisory Council for Partnership for Economic Inclusion and held senior roles within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including as Secretary to the party’s manifesto drafting committee for the 2020 and 2024 elections.

She dedicated the award to survivors of abuse, girls whose education has been protected through advocacy, and individuals who have benefited from justice and rehabilitation systems.

The 2026 edition also honoured veteran stateswoman Joyce Aryee with a Lifetime Achievement Award and recognised former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with Special Recognition for her leadership legacy in Africa.

ID/MA

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