The African Elders and Women Intercultural Dialogue (AEWID) an advocacy event for cultural re-visioning and well-being of the African Girl Child, Women and Youths in the post-colonial Africa, will be taking place in Accra Ghana from the 29th of July to 1st August 2025 on the theme: Born Free- Exploring the Economic, Cultural, Social and Political Intricacies influencing Human Trafficking and migrant smuggling in today’s Africa.
AEWID is designed towards creating a platform in which Iconic individuals drawn from different facets of the African society comes together to deconstruct ancient cultural practices and contemporary norms aiding the under-development of the African girl-child, youth and woman and aims to overturn them via legislation process in our respective nations.
The Maiden edition of AEWID was held on the 25th of April 2017 at Accra International Conference Center and the dialogue is returning to Ghana 8 years after traversing nations and platforms, the second edition held on the 25th September 2018 at Center for Women Development in Abuja Nigeria ,followed with a virtual edition at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Parallel Events(UNCSW65) in 2021 and (UNCSW67) 2023 with Global African Sheroes Union as facilitating partners.
The dignitaries to chair this dialogue and grace the event in person are former Vice President of Gambia, Her Excellency Mrs. Fatoumata Tambajang Jallow, former 2nd Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , Her Excellency Mrs. Amina Titi Abubakar. Both co-chaired the 2018 Dialogue in Abuja with Queen Mother Obaapa Awindor as Guest Speaker.
Her Excellency Mrs. Fatima Maada Bio the 1st Lady of Sierra Leone chaired the 2021 edition held virtually at the UN Commission on status of women parallel events with Ms Nadia Adongo former Deputy Chief Diaspora office of the president Ghana as guest speaker among others.
Head of Mission Diaspora Africa Forum ( DAF) Amb. Dr. Erieka Bennett, chaired the maiden edition in 2017, with Mama IMAHKUS Njinga Ababio of One Africa as the host, Mr. Eric Ampah of UNESCO Ghana was the keynote speaker with Hon. Sam Nartey George, MP of Ningo PramPram and Dr.Rose Mensah Kutin of Institute of Economic Affairs Ghana as guest speakers.
5th AEWID and its serial events is expected to attract and host over 400 participants in 4 days comprising of leaders of non-governmental organisations, State ministers and law makers, government agencies, members of diplomatic community, leaders of International development organisations, captains of Industries, culture experts, and members of vital social organs of our communities like students, religious and cultural leaders, and market women in the urban and rural communities of Africa.
United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Ghana, African Women Development Fund (AWDF), Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Ghana, UN Women Nigeria, West African Women Association an aegis of ( ECOWAS), Woodin, Diaspora Office of the President Ghana participated and supported the success of the events so far.
The past dialogues has led to the emergence of Global Africans Against Slavery (GLAAS) a multi sectoral coalition of relevant stakeholders in the fight against trafficking which has about 35 member organisations from 15 African nations and USA,UK and Greece which shall be launched at this 5th AEWID.
GLAAS was formed to eliminate the complex problems of Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants(HTMS) by deconstructing the inter-connectedness of the diverse underlying issues influencing its rise in our communities. The 5th AEWID is being convened by All Africa Media Network and Members of GLAAS.
