The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of Ms Diene Keita as United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Ms Keita, a Guinean national, becomes the Fund’s sixth Executive Director, bringing with her more than three decades of dedicated leadership in international development and public service.
A statement issued by the UNFPA and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, said Ms Keita’s profound understanding of the African context, gained through roles as UN Resident Coordinator in several countries and as UNFPA Representative in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, positions her uniquely to lead the organization.
Her extensive background is a significant asset for UNFPA’s work in Ghana, where similar challenges and opportunities in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights were paramount.
Ms Keita has been serving as Acting Executive Director since 16 July 2025, and as UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNFPA Deputy Executive Director (Programme) since August 2020.
She began her United Nations career in 1990 with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Empowering women and youth, advancing gender equality, eliminating gender-based violence and contributing to sustainable human development have been cornerstones of her career.
Speaking at the swearing in ceremony conducted by the UN Secretary General, Antonia Gueteres, she said, “I am deeply honoured to lead UNFPA at this pivotal moment.
“In a world marked by rapid demographic shifts and uncertainty, UNFPA’s work to uphold rights and choices and help countries navigate change is more essential than ever.
“By safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights, we not only save lives, but we lay the foundation for healthier, more resilient, and more prosperous societies. When women and young people thrive, entire nations prosper.”
The statement said UNFPA Ghana Country Representative, Dr Wilfred Ochan, congratulated Ms Keita on her appointment as Executive Director of UNFPA and extended his best wishes to her in her new role.
“Ms Keita’s deep understanding of development realities brings renewed inspiration to our work in Ghana, as we continue to strive towards ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet needs for family planning, eliminating gender-based violence, building demographic resilience, and empowering young people to realise their full potential,” the statement quoted Mr Ochan as saying.
Ms Keita holds a doctorate in Law and advanced degrees in International Economics, Development Law and International Relations from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. She is fluent in English, French and Italian.
