MINISTER FOR GENDER DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT “SHE BUILDS CONFERENCE”

The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, on Wednesday 10th September 2025, delivered the keynote address at the She Builds Conference held in Accra.

Organized by The Academic Woman Foundation under the theme “From Margin to Centre: Redefining Women’s Economic Power in Ghana” – the conference brought together women professionals, students, policymakers, and corporate leaders to explore the role of women in entrepreneurship, law, engineering, and the built environment, while also charting pathways for inclusion and innovation.

In her keynote address, the Minister highlighted that although women constitute 52% of Ghana’s population, fewer than 15% of elementary schools are staffed by women, with many girls dropping out before completing secondary education due to stereotypes and harmful practices.

She reaffirmed government’s commitment to women’s empowerment through the Gender Equity Act, 2024 (Act 1121), which seeks to increase women’s representation in politics, governance, and leadership; as well as dismantle systemic barriers to equal opportunities, expand access to education, protect women’s rights in workplaces & communities, promote entrepreneurship, and strengthen laws against gender-based violence.

“Power is not position. Power is influence, power is impact, and power is inclusion,” she stressed, urging a shift in mindset where talent, not gender, drives opportunities.

The Minister further called on stakeholders to envision a Ghana where women and men lead side by side, where institutions reflect the nation’s diversity, and where women have equal access to land, technology, and markets.

“Moving from margin to centre is not a favor to women. It is justice. It is not symbolic. It is a strategy. For no nation can prosper if half of it falls,” she declared.

The event also featured panel discussions, breakout workshops, and “TED-style Talks” on leadership development, entrepreneurship, gender equity, innovation, and technology’s role in shaping Ghana’s future.

Source: MoGCSP