By Hannah Dadzie
The British High Commission, Canadian High Commission and the French Embassy have announced winners for the third annual Ambassador for a Day (AfD) competition; a flagship initiative dedicated to empowering young women to assume leadership roles, advocate for women’s rights and play an active role in diplomacy.
The AfD competition provides winners with an opportunity to spend a day with an Ambassador/High Commissioner, as well as engage in other activities with the Heads of Mission they are matched with.
This year, 12 winners have been selected but three (3) namely: Malika Kassim (matched with Canadian High Commissioner), Ayisha Bashiru (matched with British High Commissioner), and Abigail Kyerewaa Baiden (matched with French Ambassador) who topped the competition, will have the opportunity to shadow the 3 Heads of Missions. All 12 winning candidates will have the opportunity to engage in advocacy activities to engage in leadership, advocacy activities to accelerate the passage and implementation of the Affirmative Action Bill.
The following Heads of Missions will participate in the 2024 AfD competition – British High Commissioner, Harriet Thompson, the Canadian High Commissioner, Martine Moreau and the French Ambassador, Jules Armand Aniambossou. Congratulating the winners, the British High Commissioner, Harriet Thompson said:
“Today we celebrate our impressive winners chosen from the hundreds of brilliant applications received. We are highlighting these girls stories to demonstrate the importance of girls having an active voice in society.’’
“To the other young women who demonstrated their confidence and potential through their application, well done and every success as you work towards realising your dreams’’. She added
“Thank you to all our nine partners: Power to Girls Foundation, Fulani Youth Association of Ghana (FUYAG), Foundation of Security Development in Africa (FOSDA), UNFPA, CAMFED, PAYDP, the African Leadership Women’s Network (ALWN), the Affirmative Action Bill Coalition Youth Wing and Plan Ghana for supporting this initiative and for enabling our fantastic participants to take part in the competition ” Mrs Thompson said
The AfD competition, is part of the British High Commission’s ‘Africa Gender and Equalities Month initiative;’ an annual campaign which takes place in March. The aim is to mark and celebrate gender and equality by holding a series of engagements to engage with key stakeholders and to learn from and understand more about gender and equality in today’s Ghana.
On 22nd March, all 12 winners: Malika Kassim, Ayisha Bashiru, Abigail Kyerewaa Baiden, Augusta Emefa Agbinku, Mohammed Bello Hidaya, Rasheeda Ama Aban, Priscilla Serwaa Koffie, Maubasharatu Abdulai, Maame Esi Kum Enimayew, Bestina Martins, Amdalatu Amidu Atiiru and Cheryl Renée Quaye will participate in an Awards Ceremony and Mentorship Learning and Sharing Workshop.
The High Commissioners and Ambassador, as well as representatives from nine Women Rights Organisations (WROs) and Youth organisations, whose beneficiaries participated in the AfD competition, and winners of AfD 2023, will have the opportunity to meet the 12 winners for the first time at the British High Commissioner’s Residence to interact, network and engage in media activities.
The winners will also serve as Community Based Ambassadors (CBAs), catalysts and champions of change advocating for gender equality and female empowerment within their own communities.
About Ambassador for A Day
The Ambassador for a Day is a competition that provides a platform for vulnerable and marginalised young women to become leaders and advocates for change. They will have the opportunity to voice their opinions about how to accelerate the passage and implementation of the Affirmative Action Bill and share their ideas on how a gender-equal future can be shaped.
