BY DANIEL BAMPOE
The NPP Loyal Ladies have stepped up their campaign to groom a new generation of Ghanaian women for politics, governance and public service after taking its leadership development drive to the United Kingdom Parliament for a high-level engagement with two British lawmakers.
The women-focused political organisation, affiliated with Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), held discussions with British Members of Parliament Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Dawn Butler at the House of Commons in London as part of efforts to expose its members to international democratic institutions and leadership experiences.
The engagement brought together women from different political traditions, with the NPP Loyal Ladies meeting lawmakers belonging to Britain’s Labour Party.
Despite the political differences, organisers said the engagement was deliberately conducted on a non-partisan basis, focusing instead on common interests such as women’s empowerment, democratic participation, mentorship, youth development and creating opportunities for women to occupy decision-making positions.
The meeting provided the Ghanaian delegation with an opportunity to interact directly with the British parliamentarians and discuss their experiences in politics and public service.
Discussions centred on women in leadership, democratic governance, mentorship, youth empowerment and practical measures that could encourage more women to participate confidently in politics and decision-making at community and national levels.
The British lawmakers also shared experiences from their journeys into public office, including challenges associated with political participation and the importance of perseverance, representation and mentorship in developing future female leaders.
Director of Communications for NPP Loyal Ladies, Grace Akosua Amoabeng, said the initiative was particularly targeted at demonstrating to young Ghanaian women that political and national leadership should not be regarded as the preserve of a privileged few.
“We want every young Ghanaian woman to know that leadership is not a privilege for a few—it is a possibility for everyone who is willing to prepare, serve, and lead with integrity,” she stated.
UK Captain of NPP Loyal Ladies, Roberta Baaba Pobee, said the Westminster engagement demonstrated how international cooperation could help women acquire knowledge and experiences capable of creating change within their respective communities.
“When women connect across borders to learn from one another, they return home better equipped to inspire change in their own communities,” she said.
Lucy Obeng, Director for Diaspora and Special Projects, also highlighted the importance of Ghana’s diaspora in developing future female leaders.
According to her, Ghanaian communities abroad can serve as important links between opportunities available internationally and women seeking to make meaningful contributions at home.
“The diaspora is more than a community abroad; it is a bridge that creates opportunities, builds leaders, and empowers Ghanaian women to think globally while serving locally,” she said.
Karen Nyuiemedi Kemetse, also a Director for Diaspora and Special Projects, said the organisation considers international partnerships an investment capable of creating opportunities beyond the current generation.
“Every global connection we build is an investment in the next generation of Ghanaian women. Our goal is to open doors so that young women can walk through them with confidence,” she stated.
Ashanti Regional Commander and Special Projects Coordinator, Josephine Efia Asare, meanwhile stressed the importance of preparation among young women aspiring to positions of influence.
“Young women should never underestimate the power of preparation. When opportunity meets a prepared woman, she becomes a leader capable of transforming her community and her nation,” she said.
The UK Parliament engagement adds another chapter to the activities of NPP Loyal Ladies, which was established in 2016 and has subsequently expanded beyond Ghana.
According to the organisation, it currently has more than 32,000 members, with active chapters in Ghana and several countries with significant Ghanaian diaspora communities.
Its international presence extends to the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Malaysia.
Over the years, the group has combined political mobilisation with leadership development, mentorship, civic engagement, political education and community service.
Although firmly associated with the NPP, the latest engagement with Labour Party lawmakers in Britain signals an attempt by the organisation to broaden its leadership programmes beyond partisan political boundaries and draw lessons from women serving in other democratic systems.
The organisation believes increasing the number of women participating in politics should involve more than simply increasing numerical representation. It argues that women must also receive the training, exposure, mentorship and opportunities necessary to exercise meaningful influence when they enter leadership positions.
The Westminster engagement therefore forms part of its wider objective of exposing members to international best practices in political leadership and democratic governance while establishing relationships that could provide mentorship and other opportunities for Ghanaian women.
