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Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong Shines at the 80th UN General Assembly – Speaks and Moderates key Panels on the SDGs, Media Leadership & Impact
On Thursday September 25, 2025, the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) witnessed a strong display of African leadership and global collaboration as celebrated Ghanaian media personality Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong moderated two high-level panel discussions and delivered remarks on another panel at the Goals Lounge – a special initiative convened by the UN Deputy Secretary-General and hosted by the UN Office for Partnerships.
Nana Yaa, a passionate SDG Advocate who currently celebrates 26 years of impact in media, made Ghana proud at this year’s UNGA in New York.
The Goals Lounge brought together world leaders, UN officials, private sector executives, and media practitioners to address urgent global issues.
Nana Yaa Sarpong shared the stage with distinguished figures including Jessica Alupo, Vice President of Uganda; Annemarie Hou, Executive Director of UN Partnerships; Gerd Müller, Director-General of UNIDO; Edmondo Cirielli, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy; Federica Diamanti, Associate Vice President for External Relations at IFAD; and Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communication.
The first session she moderated was dubbed “Brewing Sustainability: The Global Coffee Dialogue,” which examined sustainable sourcing and the future of global coffee trade as a means of sustaining livelihood.
The programme generated insightful sessions where people, ideas, and actions were shared on.
The event spotlighted a multi-stakeholder partnership, strengthening the global coffee value chain as a catalyst for sustainable development. Globally, over 12.5 million farmers depend on coffee production, with 80% grown by smallholder farmers.
The dialogue also brought to the fore coffee’s role linking agriculture, industry, and climate policy, while showcasing the Advancing Climate Resilience and Transformation in African Coffee (ACT) Programme as a platform for investment and collaboration.
Subsequently, she again moderated the insighful panel on ‘Reframing the SDGs: Africa’s Voice, Media’s Power and Impactful Narratives.’
The session explored how Africa can reset the SDG narrative by centering its own voices, experiences, and innovations. Through storytelling for impact, panellists discussed how media can amplify African-led solutions and drive public engagement.
The conversation highlighted the role of journalists, creatives, and communicators in shaping a development narrative that reflects Africa’s complexity, resilience, and promise.
She addressed a session on “Beyond the Headlines: How Women Media Leaders Are Expanding the Story.”
Women media leaders are transforming the industry, breaking barriers, challenging bias, and the evolving role of women in media on reshaping narratives.
This session spotlighted the contribution of women media leaders, with insights from the UN Global Women in Media Report 2025, and the power of inclusive storytelling in shaping public understanding of peace, security, and progress in today’s complex global landscape.
Reflecting on her participation, Nana Yaa Sarpong described the opportunity as both an honour and a responsibility, underscoring the importance of amplifying African voices and centering women in global conversations.
“It is a privilege to use my platform to highlight issues of sustainability, gender equity, and Africa’s leadership in shaping global narratives,” she noted.
The sessions, now available for public viewing, form part of the broader activities of the 80th UNGA in New York, which continues to convene world leaders, policymakers, civil society, and private sector partners in pursuit of accelerated progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Also present were Arthur Karuletwa – VP Sustainable Sourcing and Impact, Chobani, Vanusia Nogueira – International Coffee Organization, Executive Director, Solomon Sabiti Rutega – Secretary General, Inter-African Coffee Organisation, Andrea Illy – President of illycaffè, Ambassador John Ulanga – Ambassador and Director of International Trade and Economic Diplomacy at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Kalliopi Mingeirou, Chief of Ending Violence against Women at UN Women; Olusola Momoh, Co-founder and Vice Chairman of Channels Television in Nigeria; Jennifer Zabasajja, Chief Africa Anchor at Bloomberg; and Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist and Climate Correspondent for ABC News, among other global voices from international organizations and industry.
Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong is also an Entrepreneur, International Trade Consultant, Pastor, Women & Youth and SDG Advocate.
She is the General Manager of Ghana’s media group – EIB Network, and the Founder and President of Women In Sustainability Africa (WiSA), which was recently launched to mark a new beginning to accelerate growth towards the closure of the SDG gaps, including gender inequality.
Local mattress manufacturers have raised serious concerns over the influx of substandard mattresses, warning that these products pose significant health risks to consumers and threaten the sustainability of Ghana’s mattress industry.
At a press briefing held in Kumasi on Tuesday, manufacturers accused unregistered foreign entities, particularly Chinese firms, of flooding the market with cheap mattresses made from polystyrene.
Mr Yaw Ampem Darko, a spokesperson for the local manufacturers, warned that prolonged use of substandard mattresses, especially those made with polystyrene, could result in chronic back pain, musculoskeletal disorders, poor posture, and diminished sleep quality.
These health implications, they stressed, were not always immediately evident but accumulate over time, especially among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.
This material, typically used for packaging, is considered unsuitable and unsafe for bedding.
According to industry leaders, these sub-standard products have been circulating for at least five years, gaining traction among unsuspecting consumers due to their unusually low prices.
“These mattresses are being sold at suspiciously low prices, luring unsuspecting consumers who are unaware of the health dangers.”
“We are not just protecting our businesses; we are protecting Ghanaian lives. The government must act swiftly to stem this tide before more citizens fall victim to these dangerous products,” Mr Yaw Ampem Darko stated.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has acknowledged the issue and, in response, announced a nationwide enforcement campaign aimed at clamping down on the production, distribution, and sale of substandard mattresses.
The campaign, which was scheduled to take effect from September 30, 2025, was empowered by the GSA Act, 2022 (Act 1078), which authorises the Authority to seize and seal non-compliant products and impose sanctions on offenders.
In a statement signed by the Director General of the GSA, Professor George Agyei, the authority cited Sections 29 and 43 of the Act, reiterating that all mattresses sold in Ghana must meet established national standards or face confiscation.
The statement further emphasised that mattresses failing to meet these standards not only compromise sleep quality but also contribute to long-term health complications, including spinal and neck pain.
Despite the GSA’s commitment, manufacturers have expressed frustration over delays in implementation and called for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
They urged the GSA to work in close collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and national law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute violators of Ghana’s quality standards.
Manufacturers are also appealing to consumers to remain vigilant and prioritise their health by verifying that any mattress they purchase bears the GSA certification mark.
Moreover, they caution the public against purchasing suspiciously cheap mattresses that lack proper labelling or identifiable branding, as these were often indicators of substandard or counterfeit products.
As the official enforcement deadline had expired with no show, the local producers insisted that much more than business interests were at stake.
They argued that without swift and sustained action, the health and safety of Ghanaian consumers would continue to be compromised.
“Public awareness, strict enforcement, and collaboration among regulatory bodies are essential if we are to protect the integrity of the local industry and the wellbeing of the Ghanaian people,” Mr Darko indicated.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
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The Founder of the Raissa Child Protection Initiative, Ms Raissa Sambou, has urged authorities to impose severe punishment on individuals, including teachers and guardians, who sexually abuse young girls.
Speaking in an interview to mark this year’s International Day of the Girl Child (October 11), Ms Sambou condemned the increasing cases of sexual exploitation involving minors, describing such acts as “heartless, criminal, and a total betrayal of trust.”
She noted that those entrusted with the care and education of children must not be the same people who violate them, stressing that “anyone found guilty of abusing a girl child must face the full rigours of the law without leniency.”
The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote the rights of girls, empower them to reach their full potential, and draw attention to the challenges they face worldwide.
Ms Sambou lamented that poverty continues to push many young girls into vulnerable situations, exposing them to exploitation.
She expressed concern that some headmasters, teachers, and community members who should protect girls rather take advantage of them.
“This must stop immediately. The safety of every girl must never be compromised,” she said, urging the public to report all forms of abuse to the appropriate authorities and called for swift action by law enforcement agencies against perpetrators.
Addressing girls directly, Ms Sambou encouraged them to take their education seriously and to believe in their potential.
“It is possible to be young and responsible. Your future is bright, protect it, believe in it, and never let anyone dim your light,” she advised.
She further urged girls to choose their friends wisely, stay disciplined, and speak up if anyone makes sexual advances toward them.
Ms Sambou concluded with a rallying call for collective action, saying “speak up, protect them, and empower them. Together, we can end the sexual exploitation of girls.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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