The GrowLead Foundation is a Ghanaian non‑profit organisation founded to empower women, girls and marginalised communities.  It was launched in Accra in October 2025 by a group of accomplished Ghanaian women (including Fatimatu Abubakar) to focus on areas historically underserved in Ghana.
Accra, Ghana – In a bold effort to empower women, girls, and marginalised communities across Ghana, a group of accomplished Ghanaian women, including Hon. Fatimatu Abubakar, launched the GrowLead Foundation in October 2025. The non-profit organisation seeks to address systemic inequalities, foster leadership, and provide practical support to women and girls in both urban and underserved regions of the country.
The Foundation’s vision is to see a Ghana where women, girls, and marginalised groups are fully aware of their rights, equipped with the tools to participate in civic life, and able to actively influence decisions affecting their communities. Its mission focuses on creating opportunities, building capacity, and promoting leadership through programmes that target entrepreneurship, mentorship, civic empowerment, and skill development.
Key Programmes and Initiatives
GrowLead Foundation operates across several critical areas:
1. Leadership and Mentorship: The Foundation connects young women with role models, providing guidance and mentorship that equips them to take on leadership positions in their communities and beyond.
2. Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment: Women from Zongo communities and Ghana’s five northern regions—Upper East, Upper West, Savannah, North East, and Northern—receive training in business skills, modernisation techniques, and support to scale their enterprises, including packaging and export readiness.
3. Civic and Political Engagement: The Foundation raises awareness of civic rights and encourages women and marginalised groups to participate actively in governance and community decision-making.
4. Education and Capacity Building: Programmes aim to enhance skills in various areas, including communication, leadership, and professional development, ensuring participants are prepared for long-term success.
Why It Matters
Ghanaian women represent a significant portion of small and medium-sized enterprise ownership, yet many face barriers in scaling their businesses, accessing finance, and participating in decision-making processes. The GrowLead Foundation addresses these gaps, offering tools, mentorship, and guidance that empower women to thrive economically and socially.
Moreover, the Foundation’s targeted focus on historically underserved regions ensures that its impact reaches communities that often lack access to leadership development, professional mentorship, and entrepreneurial support. Through early intervention and structured mentorship, GrowLead Foundation is creating a pipeline of confident, capable, and socially responsible women leaders.
Leadership and Vision
Hon. Fatimatu Abubakar, a founding member, has been instrumental in shaping the Foundation’s programmes. Drawing on her experience as Ghana’s Minister for Information and her engagement in public service, Abubakar emphasizes the importance of leadership, integrity, and empowerment: “We want to create an enabling environment where women can thrive, lead, and contribute meaningfully to society. By equipping them with the right skills and support, we are investing in Ghana’s future.”
Looking Ahead
With its launch, the GrowLead Foundation plans to roll out mentorship programmes, entrepreneurship workshops, and civic engagement initiatives across Ghana. By bridging gaps in education, opportunity, and leadership access, the Foundation is set to become a transformative force for women and marginalised communities in Ghana.
Through its work, the GrowLead Foundation is not only empowering individual women but also fostering a culture of inclusive leadership and societal development, ensuring that Ghana’s next generation of leaders is diverse, skilled, and visionary.
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The Foundation’s vision is to see a Ghana where women, girls, and marginalised groups are fully aware of their rights, equipped with the tools to participate in civic life, and able to actively influence decisions affecting their communities. Its mission focuses on creating opportunities, building capacity, and promoting leadership through programmes that target entrepreneurship, mentorship, civic empowerment, and skill development.
Key Programmes and Initiatives
GrowLead Foundation operates across several critical areas:
1. Leadership and Mentorship: The Foundation connects young women with role models, providing guidance and mentorship that equips them to take on leadership positions in their communities and beyond.
2. Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment: Women from Zongo communities and Ghana’s five northern regions—Upper East, Upper West, Savannah, North East, and Northern—receive training in business skills, modernisation techniques, and support to scale their enterprises, including packaging and export readiness.
3. Civic and Political Engagement: The Foundation raises awareness of civic rights and encourages women and marginalised groups to participate actively in governance and community decision-making.
4. Education and Capacity Building: Programmes aim to enhance skills in various areas, including communication, leadership, and professional development, ensuring participants are prepared for long-term success.
Why It Matters
Ghanaian women represent a significant portion of small and medium-sized enterprise ownership, yet many face barriers in scaling their businesses, accessing finance, and participating in decision-making processes. The GrowLead Foundation addresses these gaps, offering tools, mentorship, and guidance that empower women to thrive economically and socially.
Moreover, the Foundation’s targeted focus on historically underserved regions ensures that its impact reaches communities that often lack access to leadership development, professional mentorship, and entrepreneurial support. Through early intervention and structured mentorship, GrowLead Foundation is creating a pipeline of confident, capable, and socially responsible women leaders.
Leadership and Vision
Hon. Fatimatu Abubakar, a founding member, has been instrumental in shaping the Foundation’s programmes. Drawing on her experience as Ghana’s Minister for Information and her engagement in public service, Abubakar emphasizes the importance of leadership, integrity, and empowerment: “We want to create an enabling environment where women can thrive, lead, and contribute meaningfully to society. By equipping them with the right skills and support, we are investing in Ghana’s future.”
Looking Ahead
With its launch, the GrowLead Foundation plans to roll out mentorship programmes, entrepreneurship workshops, and civic engagement initiatives across Ghana. By bridging gaps in education, opportunity, and leadership access, the Foundation is set to become a transformative force for women and marginalised communities in Ghana.
Through its work, the GrowLead Foundation is not only empowering individual women but also fostering a culture of inclusive leadership and societal development, ensuring that Ghana’s next generation of leaders is diverse, skilled, and visionary.
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Impact & Achievements
10,000+
Target Communities: Women, girls and marginalized groups, particularly in the five Northern regions of Ghana and Zongo neighbourhoods.
1M+
Focus Areas: Mentorship, leadership & capacity‑building.