The maiden Women in Government & Media Forum has been held at the Banquet Hall of Jubilee House, bringing together female leaders across government and the media to deepen strategic collaboration, enhance leadership visibility, and strengthen public confidence.

Convened by the Government Communications Office on February 19, 2026, the high-level forum was held under the patronage of President John Dramani Mahama and themed “Leadership, Visibility & Public Trust".

The gathering assembled female ministers, deputy ministers, chief executives, Members of Parliament, senior public officials, and leading media practitioners for what organisers described as a critical dialogue on women’s leadership in Ghana.

Delivering the keynote address, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang urged participants to treat leadership as a responsibility rather than a status symbol.

She emphasised that credibility, ethical conduct, and competence must underpin women’s growing visibility in public life, calling on leaders in both government and media to “protect truth, deepen substance, and cultivate trust in democratic institutions.”

The event was moderated by Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Shamima Muslim, while Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration) Nana Oye Bampoe-Addo delivered the welcome address.

She characterised the forum as a strategic platform designed to align women in public office with women shaping national narratives through the media.

Minister of State for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu and Chief of Staff Julius Debrah both underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two sectors to improve governance outcomes and public engagement.

A key highlight of the forum was a series of statements from senior female leaders, including:

• Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection
• Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts
• Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry
• Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, Leader of the Women’s Caucus in Parliament
• Judith Adjobah Blay, CEO of Ghana Gas

Across the interventions, speakers delivered a consistent message: women’s leadership must move beyond symbolic representation toward measurable outcomes, stronger institutional accountability, and deliberate efforts to rebuild public trust.

The Women’s Caucus leadership reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to bipartisan collaboration on issues affecting women nationwide.

The forum also featured a focused tête-à-tête with the heads of key security institutions, including Chief Fire Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) Daniella Mawusi Ntow Sarpong and the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie.

Their engagement highlighted ongoing institutional reforms, operational discipline, and the expanding role of women within Ghana’s security architecture.

The main panel discussion featured:

• Grace Ayensu
• Gifty Anti
• Nana Yaa Jantuah
• Margaret Ansei

Panellists explored the heightened scrutiny faced by women in leadership, strategies for building public trust, and practical ways to strengthen collaboration between government communicators and the media.

The forum was punctuated by cultural performances, including a surprise appearance by acclaimed Ghanaian singer Efya, which organisers said injected renewed energy into the gathering.

Organisers concluded the event with a firm commitment to institutionalise the Women in Government & Media Forum as an annual platform aimed at strengthening collaboration, credibility, and transformative leadership among women in Ghana’s public sphere.

The Government Communications Office indicated that outcomes from the forum will inform future strategies to enhance women’s leadership visibility while deepening public trust in national institutions.