As part of this year’s celebration of International Women's Day, coupled with the need to empower adolescent girls to make a successful transition into womanhood, the British High Commission Accra, UNFPA and other partners awarded young girls in the “Ambassador for a Day” competition at an event in Accra.

Welcoming guest to the event, the UK High Commissioner to Ghana, H. E Harriet Thompson acknowledged the role partners including UNFPA, PAYDP, CAMFED, Plan International Ghana and the various embassies played to facilitate the mentorship of young girls as a way of empowering them to pursue worthy careers.

Dignitaries who graced the event include the ambassadors of France, Switzerland, and Norway: His Excellency Jules-Armand Aniambossou, Her Excellency Simone Giger and Her Excellency Ingrid Mollestad, respectively.

In a short address, H. E. Ingrid Mollestad encouraged the young girls who participated in the competition to make the most of the opportunity as it presented a privilege for them to identify their future careers and work towards its fulfilment.

H.E. Jules-Armand Aniambossou expressed his interest in the initiative, recognizing it as an effective tool for empowering young girls. ‘The Government of France is committed to making gender equality a reality by empowering women’, he echoed.

On her part, the Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, H. E Simone Giger, iterated her willingness to collaborate with all the partners in empowering women and girls towards the attainment of gender equality.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Mr. Charles Abani appreciated the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for their involvement in the “Ambassador for a Day” Initiative which he believed complimented country level initiatives that empowers women and young people.

Mr. Abani equally lauded the partners for putting the initiative together, while highlighting the role played by development partners like UNFPA and UNICEF, towards ending child marriage in Ghana, which is one of the inhibitors to the achievement of gender equality.

The event was also comprised of a mentorship session for girls which allowed them to learn from ambassadors at close quarters. Certificates were presented to the award winners of the “Ambassador for a Day” competition.

A section of participants at the 2023 "Ambassador for a Day" competition.