Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has encouraged African First Ladies to intensify efforts in building healthier and more inclusive societies for national development.
She emphasised that Africa must aspire to greatness by uniting public and private partnerships, combining compassion with expertise, and ensuring that every life—no matter how remote or marginalised—can flourish.
Addressing the opening of the 2025 Merck Foundation Africa First Ladies Initiative Platform in Dubai on Wednesday, Mrs Mahama noted that the Merck Foundation Talent Programme had empowered 110 Ghanaian youth in fields such as music, ICT, filmmaking, and fashion, helping them to recognise their natural talents and pursue excellence.
“I urge all of us to take this spirit home and increase our efforts to build healthier, more inclusive societies,” she said.
The two-day summit marked the eighth anniversary of the Merck Foundation and the 13th anniversary of its development programmes, reflecting a legacy of impactful partnerships and support for vulnerable communities across Africa.
Mrs Mahama expressed gratitude to the Merck Foundation for “30 years of study support and empowering many people to heal, dream, and rise.”
She reaffirmed her commitment to strengthening collaboration through the Lordina Foundation, particularly in enhancing health, education, and combatting stigma in Ghana.
“Our partnership with you will deliver a lot to the benefit of our people,” she stated.
Mrs Mahama praised the Foundation’s role in transforming public health, girls’ education, and media in Africa, stressing the need to “raise voices and break the silence to ensure every woman recognises her worth and every child thrives in dignity and health.”
She reiterated: “I urge all of us to take this spirit home and increase our efforts to build healthier, more inclusive societies.”
Mrs Mahama joined 16 other African First Ladies in sharing experiences and solutions to common challenges.
Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of the Merck Foundation, applauded the First Ladies for their commitment.
She revealed that over 2,270 scholarships had been awarded to qualified doctors from 52 countries, covering 44 underserved specialties such as oncology, fertility care, cardiology, and trauma surgery.
Under the girls’ education programme, Senator Kelej noted that about 1,000 scholarships had been provided across more than 17 countries in partnership with First Ladies.
“…This is very important to create awareness about the impact and to encourage others to join our platform,” she added.
Prof. Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, cited a 2021 WHO report showing that Africa bears 24 per cent of the global disease burden, yet has only 2.91 healthcare workers per 1,000 people.
He noted that the human resource gap—worsened by the uneven distribution of the workforce between urban and rural areas, and between the public and private sectors—had significantly affected health outcomes.
“For instance, before the start of the Merck Foundation’s programmes in 2012, there was not a single oncologist or fertility and reproductive care specialist in some countries. But through the Foundation’s support and its partners, healthcare capacity in Africa has been significantly strengthened,” he added.
The annual summit featured panel discussions, alumni testimonials, media engagement, and a conference dinner, attracting high-level delegates from across the continent.