Launched at the start of March, in partnership with CAMFED, Girls Education Challenge (GEC) and Plan Ghana, the competition asked applicants to submit an essay and a video explaining what being an ambassador for a day would mean for them.

Selected from hundreds of women aged between 16 to 19 years, the 4 winners will spend a day with high commissioners and ambassadors from the UK, Australia, Canada and France to understand what it’s like to work in and lead a diplomatic mission.

An independent judging panel made up of representatives from the UK, Australia and Canada High Commissions and French Embassy, assessed the entries and selected the winners.

Later today the winners will be formally announced at a ceremony at the British High Commissioner’s residence in Accra.

Congratulating the winners, British High Commissioner to Ghana Harriet Thompson said:

    Africa Gender Month is a chance to spotlight the gender challenges across the continent, but to spotlight also the champions and changemakers who are overcoming those challenges. Ambassador for a Day gives a unique opportunity to some of Ghana’s future leaders and I am really looking forward to spending a day with one of the impressive winners.

    The UK is committed to upholding the rights of women and girls around the world, working to transform lives through prosperity and stability. We’ll have much greater impact working together, so it’s been fantastic to run the Ambassador for a Day competition together with Ghana, Australia, Canada and France.

Speaking ahead of the award ceremony, winner of the competition Ibrahim Barikisu from Kumasi said:

    I will call this a dream come true. I was overwhelmed with joy when my entry was selected. I am looking forward to spending a day with the Ambassador in order to learn and share this life-changing experience with other young people.

Background

The Ambassador for a Day is a competition that provides a platform for marginalised young women to become leaders and advocates for change.

They will have the opportunities to voice their opinions and share their ideas on how a gender-equal future can be shaped.
List of winners

    Dorcas Arthur from Cape Coast who will spend the day with Australian Charge D’affaires, H.E. Leann Johnson
    Maish Ibrahim Mansoorah from Budumburam who will spend the day with the British High Commissioner, H.E. Harriet Thompson
    Barikisu Ibrahim from Kumasi who will spend the day with the Canadian High Commissioner, H.E. Kati Csaba
    Feruza Abudulai from Tamale who will spend the day with the French Ambassador, H.E. Anne Sophie Ave

About CAMFED

CAMFED is a pan-African organisation revolutionising how girls’ education is delivered.
About Plan Ghana

Plan International has been working in Ghana to support children, particularly the most marginalised, to exercise their rights for more than 25 years.
About Girls Education Challenge (GEC)

From 2018 the Girls Education Challenge ‘Strategic Approaches to Girls’ Education’ (STAGE) project has supported 20,000 marginalised out-of-school girls to gain quality complementary basic education and vocational skills, and go on to formal school or work, including 2,000 girls with disabilities.