She was presented with a citation and a plaque by the Founder, Ms Zuriel Elsie Oduwole, a 15-year-old Nigerian-American, best known for her advocacy for girl-child education at age 10.

The international gender ambassador, presenting the prize to the Minister, said she instituted the award in 2014 to recognise first ladies and Gender Minsters in Africa who showed exemplary works as their efforts were not recognised as expected.

Ms Oduwole said the criteria was determined year after year and mentioned some of the first lady winners as those in Senegal, Kenya and Mozambique as well as the Rwandan Gender Minster, who won the 2017 award in the region.

Madam Otiko Afisah Djaba, who dedicated the award to persons with disabilities, staff of the Ministry and others, said, though she had received numerous awards including; international ones, this was special to her.

 The Minister expressed surprise that she did not know her work was being monitored and added that the award would energise Ghana to support the Ministry’s effort to ensure every child of school going age would be in school, especially, the girl child.

She called on traditional and religious leaders and other opinion leaders to help to  end child marriage by 2026, in order not to abruptly end their dreams.

“They should also help deal with child labour, child trafficking, child prostitution and remember that the constitution presides over every culture which promoted them.”

 She encouraged girls to work hard to increase the number of female Parliamentarians, among other positions to affect decision making, which mostly affected women who were the majority in the country.

Madam Djaba hinted that this year, all African first ladies would converge in Ghana to deliberate on how to end child marriage, teenage pregnancies and other related matters.

Also in attendance were; Professor George Gyan Baffour, the chairman for the occasion, Professor Akua Kuenyehia, Nii Tackie Latse II, Chief of Ga, family of Ms Oduwole to mention but a few.