The African Women in Leadership Organization (AWLO) hosted the 2025 edition of its HeForShe Summit in Accra, Ghana, under the powerful theme “Redefining Masculinity: Men as Catalysts for Women’s Development.”
The landmark event marked the third global edition of the summit and celebrated AWLO’s 16th anniversary of advocating for gender parity and women’s leadership across Africa and the diaspora.
The summit drew notable dignitaries, gender advocates, policymakers, and development practitioners from across Africa and beyond, united in their commitment to challenge conventional gender norms and push for a more equitable society.
In his address, the Founder and Global President of AWLO, Amb. Dr. Elisha Attai, emphasized the critical role men must play in the women’s empowerment movement—not as leaders of it, but as amplifiers of women’s voices.
“HeForShe is not about men leading women,” he stated. “Women already know the way; our role is to support, to amplify, and to advocate. Gender-based violence and inequality persist because men have been silent. Today, we say ‘enough.’”
Dr. Attai praised Ghana for its vibrant AWLO chapter and acknowledged the country’s leadership, including President H.E. John Dramani Mahama, whom he announced will be honored as the Global HeForShe Champion for his longstanding advocacy for gender equity.
Representing the Government of Ghana, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, applauded AWLO’s initiative for creating a Pan-African platform to rethink masculinity in the context of leadership and inclusion.
“Redefining masculinity is not a threat to men—it is a partnership,” she said. “President Mahama has shown, through intentionality and action, that men can drive progress by bringing women to the decision-making table.”
Dr. Lartey also emphasized the importance of inter-sectoral coordination in gender policy implementation, noting that while progress has been made, much more is needed to achieve true parity.
“Affirmative action is not about favor; it’s about balance,” she added. “A society that silences women’s voices is an unbalanced room—an abomination, even in the eyes of God.”
Also addressing the summit was Sika Twum, International Gestalt Practitioner and Vice President of AWLO Ghana, who highlighted the importance of changing narratives around masculinity in the workplace and society. She shared a poignant anecdote about visiting a government ministry where women were excluded from meaningful roles.
“When I asked where the women were, the response was: ‘We sent them to buy lunch,’” she recounted. “This summit is timely. We must question and change the systems that limit women’s potential.”
Sika Twum noted that although the Ghana Chapter was only inaugurated in May 2024, the confidence placed in it to host such a high-level summit reflected Ghana’s growing leadership in the global gender space.
The summit featured a blend of keynote addresses, breakout masterclasses, and collaborative sessions aimed at generating actionable solutions to entrenched gender disparities. A special evening cocktail session served as both a networking opportunity and a celebration of the strides made in the gender movement.
As AWLO continues to expand its reach—now operating in 15 countries with 27 chapters, including five in the U.S.—the message from Accra was clear: true gender equality will only be achieved when men and women walk this path together.
Ghana|Atinkaoline.com|Ebenezer Madugu