By Lion Ebo Prah Manson, PMJF, GLCF

The Constitutional Area 8B Leader, Lion PCC Gbolagade Adebisi, The District Governor, Lion Prince Obeng Dwamena, The Immediate Past District Governor, Vice District Governors, Past District Governors, Members of the District Cabinet, Members of the District Nominations and Elections, Committee, Distinguished Guest, Nananom, Fellow Lions, Leo-Lions and Leos, Members of the Press, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon.

I stand before you today deeply humbled and profoundly grateful for the confidence you have placed in me by electing me as your District Governor Elect of District 418. From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you. I am filled with a deep sense of appreciation for all delegates whose choices made this possible. I commend the Nominations and Elections Committee for their diligence and professionalism, and I sincerely appreciate my fellow candidates for their commitment to Lionism and to our great district.

Fellow Lions, My journey in Lionism began in 2013 with the Accra Metro Lions Club, and what started as a simple desire to serve has become a lifelong commitment to leadership, service, and impact. I am deeply grateful to my home club, Accra Metro Lions Club. my family, my mentors, and all of you who have supported me along this journey, particularly, the late Nana Addei Duah of Tema Lions Club.

Today’s decision is not about one individual; it is about our shared vision for the future of District 418. As we move forward, I want to assure you that we are not only ready to serve, we are ready to deliver impact. Our focus will be clear and strategic. In Service, We are encouraged by International First Vice President, Mark S. Lyon to prioritize either two International global causes or two UN sustainable development goals. My priority Global causes for next service year will be Hunger Relief and Vision.

We will expand the impact of Lions’ Service projects in our communities by pursuing LCIF grants for hunger relief, vision care, and humanitarian activities, that will include acquisition of food delivery vans for the District, Infrastructure expansion and equipment acquisition for underserved eye clinic and expanded partnerships to serve more communities highlighting Lions impact. We will scale up initiatives in the LCIF and World Food program (WFP) partnership school feeding project, literacy, diabetes awareness, childhood cancer support, environmental protection, humanitarian activities and respond positively when disaster strikes, ensuring that Lions remain visible and relevant in every community we serve. In Leadership, We will invest deliberately in training and development, through structured club officer training, Zone Chairpersons Workshop, Leadership institutes, and continuous learning opportunities for both Lions and Leos.

Training is vital to the growth, health and future of Lions International, District 418 and our Clubs. Yes “we serve” but the quality of our service depends upon the quality of our training. I believe that training means developing more Lion Leaders who end up cultivating other leaders. Strong leadership builds strong clubs—and strong clubs build a strong district.

In Membership, we will pursue the goals of Mission 1.5 with discipline and purpose. We are entering the last year of Lions International’s four (4) year mission 1.5 Initiative to grow our global membership to 1.5 million by 30th June, 2027 so we can meet the increasing needs of our communities.

Our target is clear:

• A minimum of 7 new clubs with a minimum of 140 charter members
• 260 new members into existing clubs
• A total of 400 New members
• A retention target of 240 members
• A positive net gain of 160 for the district

But beyond the numbers, our focus will be on engagement, retention, and building a strong Lions family in pursuance of my theme, Service. Fellowship and Friendship which highlights the core values of Lions and creates a sense of camaraderie needed to grow our District.

In LCIF and Sustainability, we will work intentionally to strengthen our culture of giving, develop a structured district fundraising framework, and position District 418 to fully leverage LCIF grant opportunities for greater impact and transformation of lives in our communities. LCIF is our only global foundation that empowers the compassionate service of Lions and Leos across the globe. Let us support LCIF and Ghana Lions Charity foundation which was established to provide timely support in response to emergency and disaster situations that may arise in Ghana.

Leos

We will continue to support our Leo District and Leo Clubs through collaborative service projects and learning opportunities to increase Leo engagement and
membership satisfaction. Next Service Year, The District will support our Leo District to apply for a Leo Service grant to undertake a hands-on service project in Ghana that will showcase the leadership and project management skills of our young volunteers with the support of Lions.

Fellow Lions, District 418 has come a long way. We are now a full-fledged district, and the responsibility before us is to build, grow, and sustain that progress to be able to attain a multiple District. But we can only achieve this through unity, collaboration, and shared purpose.

My commitment to you is simple. I will serve with: Integrity, Humility, Transparency, and unwavering dedication to service and Lions welfare.

My fellow Lions, our motto reminds us why we are here: We Serve. And together, we will serve with greater impact, fellowship and bond in friendship towards a united District 418 for the future.

Thank you once again for your trust and confidence.

May God bless you all,
May God bless District 418,
And may God bless Lions International.
And may God bless Lions Clubs International.

Thank you.