Some journeys begin with a passport stamp. Others begin with a conversation that changes the way you see the world.

This September, the She Builds Conference 2026 invites women from Ghana and beyond to gather in Accra for a day of inspiring dialogue, meaningful connections, and fresh ideas about leadership, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.

Hosted at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), the conference is organised by the Academic Woman Foundation and builds on the momentum of its successful inaugural edition in 2025.

While many professional conferences focus solely on career advancement, She Builds takes a broader view. It encourages women to pursue success that balances ambition with wellbeing, purpose, and lasting social impact.

The event reflects a growing movement across Ghana where women are taking increasingly influential roles in business, education, public service, technology, and community development.

By bringing together established leaders, entrepreneurs, students, and aspiring changemakers, the conference creates a platform for exchanging ideas, sharing practical experiences, and strengthening networks that extend far beyond a single day.

Visitors can expect an energetic atmosphere featuring keynote presentations, interactive discussions, networking sessions, and opportunities to learn directly from women shaping industries and communities.

Conversations are expected to explore leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, resilience, and strategies for creating sustainable change.

Beyond the conference halls, attending She Builds offers visitors another reason to experience Accra, one of West Africa’s most dynamic cities.

Guests can sample Ghanaian cuisine at nearby restaurants, discover local arts and crafts, and enjoy the city’s welcoming hospitality before or after the event.

For international visitors, the conference offers a window into Ghana’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, where tradition and modern ambition coexist.

For Ghanaians, She Builds is equally meaningful. It offers a chance to reconnect with a growing community of women committed to supporting one another, sharing knowledge, and inspiring the next generation of leaders. The event demonstrates how collaboration can strengthen communities and create opportunities that extend well beyond the conference stage.

Whether you are travelling to Ghana in search of meaningful cultural experiences or looking to expand your professional horizons at home, the She Builds Conference 2026 promises a day filled with ideas, inspiration, and connections that could shape the future long after the final session ends.

Every July, the rhythmic beat of drums rolls across the shores of Elmina, calling residents, returning families, and curious travellers to one of Ghana’s most treasured cultural celebrations.

The Bakatue Festival is more than a colourful gathering—it is a living expression of history, identity, and the enduring bond between the people of Elmina and the sea.

Scheduled for 7–11 July 2026, this year’s festival promises several days of celebration in one of Ghana’s most historic coastal towns. Bakatue, which translates as “opening of the lagoon,” traditionally marks the beginning of the fishing season.

The festival celebrates gratitude for past blessings while seeking prosperity, safety, and abundant harvests in the months ahead.

For generations, it has served as a powerful reminder of the central role the ocean plays in the lives and livelihoods of the people of Elmina.

Visitors can expect an atmosphere filled with colour, music, and tradition. Royal processions bring chiefs and queen mothers into the streets in magnificent ceremonial regalia, accompanied by the unmistakable sounds of traditional drumming and energetic dancing.

Cultural exhibitions showcase local craftsmanship, customs, and artistic talent, while community gatherings create opportunities for visitors to experience the warmth and hospitality for which Ghana is renowned.

Food is an essential part of the celebration. Fresh seafood, local delicacies, and regional dishes offer visitors a delicious introduction to the flavours of Ghana’s Central Region. Along the coastline, the scent of grilled fish mingles with the sea breeze as families and friends gather to celebrate together.

For international travellers, Bakatue offers far more than a festival. It provides an authentic opportunity to experience Ghanaian culture within the historic setting of Elmina, a town whose centuries-old streets, fishing harbour, and coastal heritage continue to shape its identity.

For Ghanaians, the festival is an opportunity to reconnect with tradition, celebrate community, and pass cherished customs from one generation to the next.

Whether you are drawn by history, music, food, or cultural discovery, the Bakatue Festival offers an unforgettable glimpse into the traditions that continue to define Ghana’s coastal communities. In Elmina, heritage is not simply remembered—it is proudly lived, shared, and celebrated.

The future of Africa may be taking shape in concrete, timber and clay—but it begins with a conversation. This July, Accra will host one of those rare evenings where architecture, culture and innovation meet under one roof as the Nomadic African Studio Public Lecture welcomes acclaimed Rwandan architect Christian Benimana for an inspiring discussion on the future of African cities.

Held at the AFI Headquarters in Osu, the event brings together students, architects, creatives, urban planners and curious members of the public for a thought-provoking exploration of how design can improve everyday life.

Far more than a traditional lecture, it offers a chance to engage with ideas that are transforming how African communities are built, lived in and imagined.

A Platform for African Design Leadership

Christian Benimana, Co-Executive Director and Senior Principal at MASS in Kigali, Rwanda, has become one of the continent’s leading advocates for architecture that responds to local needs, cultures and environments. His work champions the idea that African cities should be designed by Africans who understand the communities they serve.

The Nomadic African Studio reflects this same philosophy by creating spaces where knowledge, creativity and collaboration can travel across borders. Hosting the lecture in Accra underscores Ghana’s growing reputation as a hub for architecture, design and cultural exchange in West Africa.

An Evening of Ideas and Connection

The programme begins with drinks at Haptic Bar, offering guests an informal opportunity to meet fellow designers, artists and innovators before the lecture starts. Following an introduction, Benimana will share insights into nurturing the next generation of African architects and creative leaders, before opening the floor for an interactive question-and-answer session.

Visitors can expect an atmosphere filled with curiosity, meaningful conversations and fresh perspectives rather than formal ceremony. It is an event where every attendee, regardless of background, becomes part of a larger discussion about Africa’s future.

Why You Should Be There

For international visitors, the lecture offers a window into the ideas influencing one of the world’s fastest-growing urban regions. For Ghanaians, it is a chance to see how local identity, heritage and innovation can work together to shape cities that are sustainable, inclusive and proudly African.

Whether you are passionate about architecture or simply interested in the continent’s cultural evolution, this evening promises something lasting: the opportunity to hear Africa imagine itself, and to witness the conversations helping turn that vision into reality.