Ghana's First Lady calls for holistic health and empowerment for African women at High-Level OAFLAD Summit in New York

The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Her Excellency Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama , has called on African leaders and global partners to step up investments in healthcare, education, and women’s economic empowerment to secure a prosperous future for the continent.

Speaking during the “Passing the Baton” session at a high-level Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) side event held at the Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice in New York, Mrs Mahama reflected on OAFLAD’s journey over the lasy 25 years. 

The event, themed “A Legacy of Leadership: Delivering for Women and Girls,” brought together African First Ladies and a First Gentleman to discuss the strategic direction for the organisation’s next quarter-century. Mrs Mahama recalled that OAFLAD was established nearly twenty-five years ago at a critical juncture when the HIV and AIDS pandemic demanded bold, urgent, and unified African leadership, a spirit she insisted remains just as vital today.

Addressing the audience, the First Lady emphasised the need to build resilient healthcare systems capable of reaching every mother and child, integrating maternal care with HIV prevention, early screening, nutrition, and other essential lifesaving services. 

She stressed that healthcare improvements alone are insufficient without broader socio-economic support. “Health cannot be addressed in isolation. Education, women’s economic empowerment, and gender equity are essential to creating healthier families, stronger communities, and more prosperous nations.”

“When a mother is healthy, when a young girl is shielded from harm and kept in school, and when a woman is empowered to build her own livelihood, the transformative ripple effects lift entire communities and drive national prosperity,” she added.

Reaffirming Ghana’s dedication to these principles, Her Excellency noted that the nation remains committed to embedding maternal healthcare, youth empowerment, and gender equity directly into its national development agenda to ensure no woman or child is left behind.

Mrs Mahama urged her peers to leverage the organization’s collective influence and foster strong global partnerships. She added that access to quality healthcare, dignity, and economic opportunity must no longer be viewed as privileges for a few, but as guaranteed rights for every woman and child across Africa.