Accra, Ghana
August 1–4, 2026
From August 1 to 4, the first-ever LOLA Africa Leadership Retreat brought together nine women leaders from nine African countries in Accra, Ghana, for four days of leadership development, learning, and connection.
Today, LOLA’s African network spans 15 countries and 26 chapters, with women leaders working in very different political, cultural, and social contexts. Bringing some of these leaders together in person for the first time was an important moment for the region — a chance to share what is working, talk openly about challenges, and get to know the women behind LOLA’s chapters.
Hosted at the La Villa Boutique Hotel by Mary Joyce Takali, LOLA Africa Regional Leader, the retreat welcomed leaders from Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Cameroon, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Day 1 – August | Welcome Dinner: Stories & Connections
The retreat opened with “How I Found Liberty,” where each leader shared her personal journey, how she discovered the ideas of liberty, and how she found her way to LOLA.
The stories were different, but the reasons for being there had a lot in common. The evening gave the leaders a chance to get to know one another beyond their roles and chapters.
Dinner and networking continued into the evening, setting the tone for four days of honest conversations, shared experiences, and new friendships.
Day 2 – August 2 | Leadership, Economic Freedom & Pitch Night
Day 2 focused on the ideas and skills leaders can take back to their chapters and communities. Participants explored what it means to lead a LOLA chapter, celebrated the cultures represented in the room, and discussed why economic freedom matters for women.
Laura Lima, LOLA Chapter Program Manager, led a session on what it means to be a LOLA leader. Temiloluwa Oyeniyi of Ominira Initiative spoke about the importance of economic freedom for women, while Juanita Gyamfi of Mind Menders Alliance worked with participants on personal branding and public speaking.
The day’s highlight was Pitch Night. Participants took the stage to answer a simple but important question: “What is LOLA?” It was an opportunity to put their communication skills into practice and think about how to explain LOLA’s mission in a way that is clear, personal, and compelling.
Members of the LOLA Accra Chapter joined the evening as invited guests and judges, bringing the local LOLA community into the celebration.
Congratulations to the three top performers:
🏆 Lynet Balukho (Zimbabwe) — First Place
🥈 Linda Kariuki (Kenya) — Second Place
🥉 Angela Okai Nartey (Ghana) — Third Place
The Elevator Pitch session was led by Linda Kavuka, whose earlier work played an important role in helping build and consolidate LOLA’s presence in Africa.
The evening continued with an open Mixer Night, bringing together retreat participants, local LOLA members, representatives from RightSet, Aceye, and other organizations, and friends from the broader liberty movement.
Day 3 – August 3 | Advocacy, Leadership & Recognition
Day 3 brought the conversation closer to the work leaders are doing every day, from advocacy and political engagement to learning from other chapters and communicating their work to supporters.
Participants explored LOLA’s stances and what the organization stands for, followed by a conversation on leading change through advocacy and political engagement with Daphne Naudho of Action for Liberty and Economic Development.
The Leadership Exchange: Learning from Each Other led by Dalila Lisboa, LOLA Leadership Retreats Coordinator, gave leaders space to share experiences, challenges, and lessons from their own countries.Rather than looking for one-size-fits-all answers, the conversation focused on practical lessons leaders could take back to their own chapters.
A practical workshop on writing letters to donors also gave participants tools to better communicate their work and build relationships with supporters.
The afternoon turned to recognition and celebration.
🏆 LOLA Namibia, led by Judith De Oliveira, was named Africa Chapter of the Year, recognizing the chapter’s leadership and the impact of its work in the region.
⭐ Mary Joyce Takali, LOLA Africa Regional Leader, was recognized as LOLA of the Month, celebrating her leadership and the role she continues to play in bringing LOLA leaders together across Africa.
Each participant also received a certificate recognizing her completion of the retreat.
The formal program ended with a Closing Dinner & Celebration, giving everyone one more evening to celebrate together.
Day 4 – August 4 |Accra Highlights Tour
The retreat ended with an Accra Highlights Tour, including visits to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Black Star Square, and the Independence Arch.
After four days spent talking about liberty, leadership, and the work LOLA leaders are doing in their own communities, ending in a city shaped by Ghana’s own history of independence was a fitting way to close the retreat.
Closing & Acknowledgments
The first-ever LOLA Africa Leadership Retreat was an important moment for a network that now spans 15 countries and 26 chapters.
Nine women came to Accra from nine different countries. They left with new ideas, new relationships, and a better understanding of the work being done by LOLA leaders elsewhere in Africa. For some, it was the first time meeting another LOLA leader from the continent in person. For all of them, it was a chance to step outside their own chapters and see the wider network they are part of.
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors — Atlas Network, The Foundation for Harmony and Prosperity, Ominira Initiative, Mind Menders Alliance, ALED, RightSet Ghana, and Aceye — as well as to the speakers, facilitators, and local partners who helped make this first retreat possible.
The retreat may have ended in Accra, but the conversations and relationships built there will continue in the chapters and communities these leaders return to.
