African leaders advocate for female empowerment and mentorship

During the Elevate Africa Annual Convening 2026 in Accra, Ghana, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang and Olori Atuwatse III, Queen of the Warri Kingdom, called for enhanced female leadership through equal opportunity and resource access.

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the need to remove systemic barriers, specifically noting the difficulty female entrepreneurs face in securing reasonable financing. She highlighted the proposed creation of a Women’s Development Bank to provide financial mechanisms tailored to women-led businesses. She argued that instead of merely praising female resilience, institutions must provide the necessary resources and support to enable growth.

Olori Atuwatse III stressed the importance of intergenerational solidarity, urging established women to mentor younger generations by sharing knowledge, networks, and resources.

In a separate event in West Virginia, United States, Ambassador Jane Gasu Aheto, Deputy Head of Mission at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., also advocated for women in leadership to use their influence to empower others. She encouraged the African diaspora to form strategic partnerships with women’s organizations and businesses to drive development in entrepreneurship, technology, and education.