Empowering queenmothers across agricultural value chain: Agrihouse launches 7th edition of Gathering of Royals

The 7th Edition of the Gathering of the Royals by the Agrihouse Foundation is scheduled to take place tomorrow (March 12), at the GNAT Hall in Accra.

It will be held on the theme: “Seeds of change: Honouring leadership, inspiring hope, and strengthening women to innovatively enhance our agrifood future”.

Over the past six years, the Gathering of the Royals Interventional initiative has firmly established itself as a transformative platform that empowers queen mothers and women across the agricultural value chain.

Interventional initiative

The interventional initiative has directly impacted more than 3,700 individuals, which included 2,300 queenmothers and over 1,400 stakeholders, policymakers and students involved in the agriculture value chain.

It has also fostered meaningful discussions and collaborative efforts to address key issues such as access to resources, market barriers and the adoption of sustainable farming practices.

Through strategic partnerships with public sector stakeholders, corporate bodies and financial institutions, the initiative has influenced policy directions and facilitated impactful support systems for queenmothers and their respective communities.

Launch

Speaking at the launch, the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, emphasised the critical role of queenmothers as community leaders in shaping a future where young women can thrive in agriculture.

She reaffirmed the Agrihouse Foundation’s commitment to implementing transformational programmes that foster long-term development in the agri-food sector.

Ms Akosa announced that the 7th edition would introduce a groundbreaking initiative called the “Royals in Agribooster: Dignified Jobs for the Community Network initiative”.

“Under this initiative, Agrihouse Foundation will work closely with queenmothers to establish young female business groups, creating defined agribusiness job opportunities at the community level to boost economic growth and empowerment,” Ms Akosa said. 

Youth action-led unions

Ms Akosa said as part of the programme, queenmothers from all 16 regions would be supported to establish youth action-led unions.

“These unions will receive structured training, mentorship, financial and technical support and resource mobilisation.

“This initiative seeks to strengthen the agricultural value chain while ensuring that young women gain sustainable employment in agribusiness,” she explained.

Legacy honours 

Ms Akosa added that a key feature of the 7th edition was the introduction of the “Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings Legacy Honours”, an award dedicated to celebrating exceptional women who had demonstrated resilience, leadership and impact in agriculture, governance, education and community development.

Named in honour of the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, a staunch advocate for women’s empowerment, the award will recognise women whose relentless efforts continue to drive change in their communities and regions.

Ms Akosa highlighted the significance of this award, stating: "This recognition serves as a lasting tribute to a woman whose vision transformed women’s empowerment in Ghana. Through this honour, we aim to spotlight women who embody resilience, those who face challenges, overcome obstacles, and ultimately triumph against all odds."

Adding his voice, the immediate past Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs and Chairman of the Planning Committee for the 7th Gathering of the Royals and the Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings Legacy Honours, John Osei Frimpong, called on queenmothers to take an active role in shaping and driving the outcomes of the initiative.