The First Lady of Ghana, Lordina Dramani Mahama, has been recognised by the Merck Foundation as an Ambassador in acknowledgement of her long standing humanitarian work through the Lordina Foundation, which has supported vulnerable communities across Ghana over the past decade.
The honour was conferred by the Merck Foundation during the Ghana Alumni Summit 2026 held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra on Tuesday, May 19. The award was jointly presented by Dr Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer of the Merck Foundation, and Professor Dr Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
According to the Foundation, Mrs Mahama was recognised for her sustained contributions in improving healthcare access, advancing education, and empowering women and girls in deprived communities. Her Lordina Foundation has worked closely with the Merck Foundation on several initiatives aimed at addressing gaps in healthcare delivery and social development.
Speaking at the event, Dr Rasha Kelej praised the First Lady’s impact, stating that her work has transformed the lives of thousands of people across Ghana. She highlighted interventions including medical training scholarships, educational support programmes, and efforts to combat child marriage and social stigma affecting vulnerable groups.
Through the partnership, the Merck Foundation has supported Ghanaian doctors with specialist training scholarships, enabling them to build capacity in critical areas of healthcare. The Foundation also noted that over 110 individuals have benefitted from creative arts and ICT training programmes designed to improve livelihoods and economic empowerment.
The First Lady has also been actively involved in campaigns such as “More Than a Mother” and “Educating Linda,” which aim to challenge infertility stigma, promote girls’ education, and strengthen advocacy against child marriage. These initiatives, according to organisers, have contributed to improved awareness and social change in several communities.
In her remarks, Mrs Mahama expressed gratitude for the recognition and emphasised the importance of sustained partnerships in driving social development. She noted that the collaboration with Merck Foundation has helped provide opportunities for medical professionals and young people who are now contributing meaningfully to national development.
She stated that the impact of the programmes is reflected in the success stories of beneficiaries, including doctors who have returned to serve in Ghana and individuals who have gained new skills through training initiatives.
“My heart is truly grateful as I listen to the testimonies of the Merck Foundation Alumni. Their achievements offer hope that, with dedication, no one will be left behind,” she said.
Mrs Mahama further emphasised that the initiatives align with broader national development goals focused on healthcare improvement, education access, and economic empowerment, adding that such interventions help strengthen communities at the grassroots level.
The recognition adds to the First Lady’s long record of humanitarian engagement and reinforces ongoing partnerships between Ghanaian social development initiatives and international philanthropic organisations working across Africa.
First Lady Lordina Mahama enstooled Nkosuohemaa of Akroso Asukawkaw