By: Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
The Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, Germany, has honoured the First Lady of Ghana, Mrs. Lordina Mahama, with an appointment as its Ambassador in Ghana in recognition of her long-standing humanitarian impact through the Lordina Foundation.
The recognition was jointly conferred by Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), Chief Executive Officer of the Merck Foundation, and Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees and Senator, during the Merck Foundation Ghana Alumni Summit 2026 held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Tuesday, May 19.
In her remarks, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.) praised Mrs Mahama’s humanitarian work, noting that her initiatives have transformed the lives of thousands across Ghana through education and healthcare support for vulnerable groups, particularly in deprived communities, as well as the economic empowerment of women.
She highlighted that through the Lordina Foundation, a long-standing partner of the Merck Foundation, medical training scholarships have been provided to Ghanaian doctors, enabling them to specialise and expand access to quality healthcare across the country.
She further noted that programmes supporting girls’ education, including the “More Than a Mother” campaign, the “Educating Linda” initiative, and interventions against child marriage, have contributed to improving the lives of several families and creating new opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Mrs Kelej also commended the First Lady for her support for the annual Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards, which seek to empower journalists across Africa and Asia to help shift narratives around infertility stigma, women’s empowerment, and social development issues.
The First Lady, in her response, said her foundation has invested in developing future leaders, providing scholarships for 40 Ghanaian medical professionals who are now delivering specialised healthcare services, as well as training over 110 beneficiaries in creative arts and ICT.
She expressed gratitude after listening to testimonies from Merck Foundation alumni, noting that their success stories reinforce her commitment to continue sharing their impact widely.
“My heart is truly grateful as I listened to the testimonies of Merck Foundation Alumni. Their achievements offer hope that with dedication, no one can be left behind. Through health support, facility innovation and economic empowerment initiatives, we have tried to reach the very heart of our communities. Whether a grandmother in a village in need of healthcare, a young girl dreaming of a classroom, or a woman seeking financial independence, our mission is to serve their dream for a better life,” she said.
Mrs Mahama also acknowledged the long-standing collaboration with the Merck Foundation and reaffirmed her commitment to continue working with the organisation.
“It’s about a doctor who returned home to save lives. It’s about journalists who write with understanding of maternal health. It’s about the scholarship recipient who now sees herself as a future leader. This reflects the vision of our government under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama,” she added.
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