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Fmr Pres Kufour, FDA CEO, others receive ‘The Change Maker Award’
The Youth Leadership Parliament of Ghana on February 15, 2021 under its initiative of theMillennium Youth Impact Awards (MYIA) conferred the honour of “The Change Maker Award’ on Mrs Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
Mrs Darko had been nominated for the award under the Innovation, Science and Technology category of the awards on the November 28, 2020.
The award is in recognition of her distinguished leadership as CEO in bringing about an innovative transformation of the FDA that directly impacts on the contribution of Science and Technology to the socio-economic development of Ghana.
The annual awards programme seeks to honour distinguished young leaders, individuals, businesses and multinationals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and impacted lives in their areas of endeavour under an initiative called ‘The Millennium Youth Impact Awards’.
Winners of the 2021 award in other categories included, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, Hon. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, Hon. Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Mr Daniel Addo, CEO of Consolidated Bank Ghana, Nana Kwame Bediako, CEO of Kwarleyz Group of Companies and Former President, H.E John Agyekum Kufuor.
Explaining the steps that led to the selection of award winners, the coordinator of the MYIA indicated that nominees for the Millennium Awards were carefully selected and vetted by the nomination board before they were voted upon by an electoral college from across the 16 regions of Ghana in order to confirm winners of the award in the various categories.
The Awardee of the awards must have been distinguished in one of the three (3) thematic areas of the initiative: (i) Transformation of Lives; (ii) Value Addition; and (iii) Enabling Environment for Human Development.
Mrs Darko has expressed appreciation to the Youth Leadership Parliament of Ghana for the honour conferred on her and assured them of the continued commitment of the leadership and staff of FDA in contributing to ensuring an effective public health and safety system in the country.
Empowering women is not merely an act of goodwill but a strategic investment in national development, the Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has said.
According to her, when women are given opportunities to participate fully in leadership and decision-making, the nation benefits from a broader pool of talent, ideas and perspectives.
In a message to commemorate International Women’s Day 2026, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang praised the resilience, achievements and invaluable contributions of women to national development, urging them to take pride in their role in shaping the country’s progress.
The Vice President said Ghana’s theme for this year’s celebration: ‘Giving to Gain,’ reflected deliberate efforts being made to promote women’s participation in leadership and governance.
She explained that the intentional effort to ensure women constituted at least 30 per cent of government appointments recognised the important role women played in national development.
According to her, when women served as ministers, led key public institutions and contributed to policy formulation at the highest levels, the country benefited significantly.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that expanding opportunities for women should go beyond government institutions.
She said sectors such as business, academia, civil society, the creative industry and faith-based organisations would also benefit greatly from increased participation of women in leadership.
The Vice President, therefore called for continued support for initiatives that promoted gender equality and women’s empowerment across all sectors of society.
She also commended Ghanaian women for their resilience and dedication and wished them a happy International Women’s Day.
By Spectator Reporter
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WOMEN in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) successfully held the African Women’s Health and Wealth Conference (AWoHW) with a call for research and investment into women’s healthcare.
It also called for robust financial systems and encouraged women to generate wealth as well as prioritise their health.
The conference held at the Shippers House in Accra on March 5, was on the theme: ‘Championing Inclusive healthcare and finance systems for African women and girls.’
Speaking on behalf of Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Sabia Kpekata, Programme Officer at the Ministry, said financial inclusion remains one of the most critical pathways to women’s empowerment and achieving sustainable development.
According to the minister, it is for this reason that the government continues to support initiatives that expand access to affordable credit, strengthen women-led enterprises and build financial literacy.
“Women must sit at the policy table where budgets are approved, health priorities are set, and economic policies are designed. This is why the ministry calls on all stakeholders to push for the effective implementation of the Affirmative Act,”
• Sabia Kpekata addressing the gathering
she stated.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, noted that many women suffer from mental health issues as a result of health financing, adding that, “this is why President Mahama has initiated the Accra Reset to tackle issues relating to women.”
On her part, the convener, Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, explained that, “Today is not just a conference – It is a declaration. It is a declaration that African women and girls will no longer stand at the margins of systems that determine their health, their wealth, and their future.”
According to her, it is a declaration that sustainability is not a slogan for them, rather, it is a strategy, a commitment and a promise.
The Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod Jewellery, Getrude Emefa Donkor, said saving alone cannot make one financially sound, adding that investing and having other sources of income was the best way to go.
WiSA is a Coordinating Pan-African Organisation that works with other CSOs, NGOs, Corporate Institutions, local and international development organisations and individuals to bring all women, men, young people and women groups together to foster the achievement of the SDGs across Africa
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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