Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and Member of Parliament for Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has lauded the Pan-African movement for economic justice led by Ivorian activist and cyclist Diawara Affoué Yasmine, describing it as a “continental call to conscience and reform.”
Speaking on the floor of Parliament in a statement, Hon. Sowah highlighted Yasmine’s remarkable transcontinental expedition dubbed WIRI — meaning “Where Innovation Rises” which saw the 34-year-old activist cycle from Korhogo in Côte d’Ivoire through Ghana and ten other African countries to Cape Town, South Africa.
The Deputy Minister said Yasmine’s “walk and ride for economic justice” was more than a physical journey; it was a symbolic call to action for Africa’s youth, women, and leaders to stand for fiscal equity, transparent governance, and self-reliant development.
“She rides for economic justice, for gender equity, and for a sustainable Africa built on ingenuity and the aspirations of its own people,” Hon. Sowah told Parliament.
She said Yasmine’s campaign, under the banner Agenda Africa, confronted deep-seated inequalities in the global financial system, advocating for climate reparations based on justice rather than debt, and urging African governments to strengthen tax systems and governance structures.
Hon. Sowah also linked the initiative to broader continental efforts, referencing the 2025 APNIFFT Continental Conference in Johannesburg, where African lawmakers and experts marked a decade of action against illicit financial flows. The conference, she said, called for “renewed legislative commitment to fiscal transparency and equitable taxation” — values consistent with the WIRI mission.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that the movement resonated strongly with Ghana’s commitment to inclusive growth and women’s empowerment, echoing Parliament’s ongoing advocacy for affirmative action and gender-balanced leadership.
“A society that sidelines its women and youth cannot truly move forward,” she stressed.
Hon. Sowah said Ghana’s warm reception of Yasmine reflected the country’s solidarity with her message and reaffirmed its role as a supporter of progressive African initiatives.
She concluded her statement by urging African leaders and citizens alike to be inspired by Yasmine’s courage and conviction.
“She did not wait for doors to open; she forged new ones with every pedal stroke,” Hon. Sowah declared. “Her journey reminds us that leadership does not always wear a suit ssometimes it wears cycling gear and carries hope across deserts and borders.”
