Ghana Gender Minister Teams with Queen Mothers for Equality

Ghana's Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection just welcomed an unexpected but powerful ally in the fight for gender equality: queen mothers from every region of the country.

Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey met with leaders of the Queen Mothers Association, a nationwide network of traditional female leaders who hold significant influence in their communities. The group, led by President Nana Otubea II, represents gazetted queen mothers who shape decisions at the village and district level across Ghana.

The timing couldn't be better. Ghana's Affirmative Action Act, passed in 2024 and launched this year, is now being rolled out with a dedicated Secretariat to oversee implementation. The queen mothers played a key advocacy role in getting the act passed, and now they're ready to help make it work on the ground.

Dr. Lartey handed the association copies of the Affirmative Action Act, the Social Protection Act, and materials about the government's Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program. These tools will help queen mothers educate their communities about new rights and resources available to women and families.

The minister emphasized what makes this partnership so valuable: queen mothers are already trusted voices in their communities. They're uniquely positioned to address sensitive issues like teenage pregnancy, child welfare, and caregiving in ways that resonate with local culture and values.

The Ripple Effect

This collaboration represents more than just a government meeting. Queen mothers have the kind of grassroots credibility that no government program can manufacture overnight.

When a queen mother speaks about gender equality or encourages women to run for district assembly positions, entire communities listen. The association has already demonstrated this influence by helping advocate for affirmative action legislation at the national level.

Now, with official government backing and resources, they can amplify their impact. The Ministry continues to run programs like LEAP and the Ghana School Feeding Programme, but having queen mothers champion these initiatives at the community level could dramatically improve uptake and effectiveness.

Dr. Lartey specifically urged the queen mothers to encourage more women to contest upcoming District Assembly elections. Currently, women remain significantly underrepresented in local governance, but traditional leaders endorsing female candidates could shift that reality.

The government's commitment to "no one is left behind" takes on practical meaning when traditional and modern governance structures work together rather than in parallel.

Both sides left the meeting with clear commitments: the government will include queen mothers more deeply in governance structures, while the association will continue supporting community-level implementation of gender equality initiatives. It's a partnership built on mutual respect and shared goals, exactly the kind of collaboration that turns policy into progress.