The UG Panel members (seated) with officials from UG and GhaLLA
The Legon Centre for Education Research and Policy (LECERP), in collaboration with the Ghana Leadership and Learning Alliance (GhaLLA), hosted the Women in Leadership Conference on 21st July, 2026 at the University of Ghana.
The conference, a highlight of a week-long programme, brought together women leaders in education and aspiring women leaders from Ghana and the United States of America for a rich cross-cultural exchange on women’s leadership in education. Held from 19th to 25th July 2026, the programme formed part of a broader research initiative titled ‘Women in Leadership: A USA–Ghana Exchange on Women’s Learning, Leadership, and Legacy.’ The initiative seeks to explore women’s leadership practices in education and examine how these practices contribute to developing future leaders, sustaining the leadership of others, and improving educational outcomes for students.
Mr. Joseph Oduro Nkansah (in blue suit) with officials and delegates at the opening of the conference
The programme officially commenced at the University of Ghana on Monday, 20th July, 2026, with an opening session that welcomed a delegation of 21 women educational leaders from the United States of America and Ghana. The opening provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on the purpose of the exchange and the importance of learning across cultures and generations.
Dr. Joyce Anku delivering the welcome remarks.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Director of LECERP, Dr. Joyce Anku, welcomed the delegation and highlighted the importance of creating platforms that enable women educational leaders to learn from one another across different cultural and institutional contexts. She noted that the collaboration between LECERP and GhaLLA provided an important opportunity to explore women’s leadership practices and examine how cultural intelligence, relational trust, and systemic awareness can contribute to stronger and more responsive educational systems.
Mr. Joseph Oduro Nkansah, delivering opening remarks.
In his opening remarks, the Registrar of the College of Education, Mr. Joseph Oduro Nkansah, commended LECERP and GhaLLA for creating a platform for women educational leaders to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another. He emphasised the importance of sustaining the partnership beyond the programme and expressed the hope that the collaboration would serve as a springboard for long-term research engagement and institutional collaboration.
Dr. Laureen Adams, Executive Director of GhaLLA, delivering her remarks.
The Executive Director of GhaLLA, Dr. Laureen Adams, described the delegation as a community of women at different stages of their leadership journeys. “We come as leaders, and this afternoon we come as students,” Dr. Adams said. She emphasised the delegation's desire to learn from women leading within Ghana's educational system and take those lessons back to their own schools, districts, and communities.
Panel members at the conference
The main conference, held on Tuesday, 21st July, 2026, featured a panel discussion moderated by Dr Freda Osei-Sefa, Research Fellow at LECERP., The conference which brought together prominent women leaders from the University of Ghana, including Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, Registrar of the University of Ghana; Dr. Yvonne Lamptey, Director of the Human Resource and Organisational Development Directorate; Prof. Olivia Kwapong, Dean of the School of Continuing and Distance Education; Prof. Deborah Atobrah, Director of the Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA); and Mrs. Regina Afari Boateng, Administrator of the School of Continuing and Distance Education.
A cross-section of the audience at the conference
The panel provided participants with an opportunity to hear directly from the women leaders about their experiences of navigating leadership within Ghana's educational sector. The discussions explored the rewards and challenges of women's leadership, mentorship, the importance of creating opportunities for younger women, and the changing needs of students.
The panellists also reflected on the influence of culture and language on educational leadership, as well as the opportunities and challenges presented by technology and social media in education. The conversation highlighted the importance of responsive and people-centred leadership that recognises the diverse needs of students and the communities served by educational institutions.
Panel members with the delegates at the conference.
The exchange also provided an opportunity to reflect on the changing landscape of education in Ghana and the ways in which leaders can respond to emerging challenges and opportunities within the education system. For the visiting delegation, the panel discussion offered a window into the experiences of women leading in Ghanaian education, reflecting the central purpose of the LECERP–GhaLLA collaboration: to create spaces where women educational leaders can learn from one another, build professional networks, and explore leadership practices that strengthen educational systems.
Delegates engaged in a discussion during the conference.
The week-long programme also featured school visits, research interviews and facilitated workshops, providing participants with opportunities to engage with Ghana's educational and cultural landscape while contributing to their ongoing research.
The Women in Leadership: A USA-Ghana Exchange on Women's Learning, Leadership, and Legacy initiative underscores the commitment of LECERP and GhaLLA to advancing research and dialogue on women's leadership in education. It also lays the foundation for sustained collaboration between the two organisations, with the potential to generate research, strengthen professional networks, and nurture the next generation of women leaders in education.