By Ewoenam Kpodo, GNA
Ho, Mar. 09, GNA – Prof Lydia Aziato, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho, says building stronger women is a key strategy for national development.
She noted that women remained central to Ghana’s economic productivity, social stability and global competitiveness, citing the achievements of distinguished Ghanaian women such as Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Ghana’s first female Vice President, and Annie Ruth Jiagge, the first female judge in the Commonwealth.
Prof Aziato made the remarks while presenting at the 2026 Volta Women Leadership Conference organised by GloryHill Women Empowerment LBG in collaboration with Ho Technical University (HTU) to mark International Women’s Day.
She said no nation could maximise its development potential while underutilising half of its human capital, stressing that Ghana’s future depended on empowering women to contribute meaningfully to national development.
Prof Aziato cited statistics showing Africa loses about $95 billion annually due to underutilised women’s economic potential, while women occupy only 14.9 per cent of parliamentary seats in Ghana.
She identified structural barriers to women’s advancement, including limited access to capital, underrepresentation in governance and persistent cultural norms, noting that such challenges constrained economic growth and institutional resilience.
To address the situation, she proposed four key pillars: education and future-ready skills, economic empowerment, representation and policy influence, and mentorship and networks.
Prof Aziato, the first nurse to become a full Professor in Ghana and the first nurse to serve as Vice-Chancellor in Ghana and West Africa, urged institutions to create enabling environments for girls to grow up expecting to lead and make an impact.
She called for deliberate policies to measure gender equity, remove structural bias in leadership opportunities and ensure equitable access to funding.
Other speakers, including Prof Ben Honyenuga, Vice-Chancellor of HTU, also celebrated women’s contributions to governance, education, entrepreneurship, health and community development, and called for stronger support for their advancement into leadership roles.
The conference featured sessions on mental health and resilience, panel discussions and a cooking competition, bringing together women leaders, students, professionals and development stakeholders to promote dialogue and inspire action for national development.
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8 to honour women’s achievements, promote gender equality and advocate women’s rights. The 2026 theme is “Give to Gain.”
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Audrey Dekalu
