Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Presidency in charge of Finance and Administration, has advocated for a renewed commitment to creating systems and structures that empower future generations of women to aspire, lead, and serve with distinction.

She made the call in a welcome address at a day’s workshop and health screening organised by the Presidency in commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day.

The day was held on the theme “Rights, Justice, Action For ALL Women and Girls”.

The Presidency joined the global community in celebrating and recognising the achievements and contributions of women in Ghana.

Nana Oye lauded the achievements of Vice President Professor Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who was the guest speaker at the event.

The Deputy Chief of Staff said they deeply appreciate Vice President’s presence and the fact that she had made a historic mark, for female leadership in Ghana.

“And I remember your words a few years ago, you have stood at the door, you opened the door and you have held the door open for the rest of us,” she said.

“We are very grateful to you for your support and recognise that,” Nana Bampoe Addo added.

Nana Oye noted that at the Office of the President, women play a very critical, strategic and important role within the Presidency and across public service.

“So, as we commemorate International Women’s Day, it is a moment for us to pause and reflect on the significant contributions that we women make to growth, effectiveness and stability of our institutions,” she said.

Nana Oye said Ghana had been shaped by the remarkable contributions of many trailblazing women.

She said from Justice Georgina Theodora Woode, the first female Chief Justice of Ghana, and Hannah Kudjoe (a prominent activist for Ghanaian independence in the 1940s and 1950s) to Vice President Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the first woman to serve as Vice Chancellor of a public university and now the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.

“There are several women, I could stand here for hours, but particularly we recognize Esther Ocloo, who built a business and also we recently said goodbye to a trailblazer, Auntie Shika Baeta,” she said.

She added: “Their journeys remind us that when barriers are broken and opportunities are created, women rise not only to lead but also to transform institutions and inspire future generations.”

She noted that at the Presidency, women continue to serve with dedication and distinction across many areas of responsibility – from administration and policy development.

Nana Oye said globally, women still occupy less than one-third of senior leadership roles according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), which shows the world had made progress but there was still a lot more work that ought to be done.

She reiterated that equity must therefore be reflected not only in policy but in practice.

“We need to create opportunities, we need to nurture talent, and that is how the pathways to leadership will be opened,” she said.

She said she was particularly pleased that the programme provided a platform for dialogue and reflection on women’s leadership and influence in the workplace.

Adding that such cooperation and conversations were very timely and important.

“The progress we seek cannot be achieved by women alone. So when we work together, we’ll remove barriers and support one another,” Nana Oye stated.

“We can build workplaces that truly reflect the values of equity, respect and opportunity.

“So, as we mark this very important occasion, let us celebrate the many women who continue to work tirelessly, to work in this particular institution for the advancement and development of our mother Ghana.”