Queen Mother Awo Yaa Manubea I, Mawerehemaa of Kyekyewere in the Eastern Region, has drawn on her personal experience with low self-esteem to encourage people to develop self-worth, prioritise their wellbeing and set healthier boundaries in their personal and professional lives.

The British-Ghanaian queen mother, who is described as the first British-born Ghanaian to be enstooled as a queen mother in the Eastern Region, was enstooled in April 2024.

She launched her debut book, It All Begins With Self Love, in Accra on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at an event attended by traditional leaders, dignitaries and well-wishers, including Obaapayin Florence Abena Agyeman, Barimah Okunini Kwame Gyebi Ababio II and Naa Ayawa Niatse I.



Speaking to the media after the launch, Awo Yaa Manubea I said the book was inspired by her own experience and years of efforts to understand the causes and effects of low self-esteem.

“I’m happy that the people who were meant to be here were here. I just want to thank everyone for coming out to support me,” she said.

She said her struggles with low self-esteem began in childhood and continued through her teenage years and early adulthood.

“There is always a reason why we have low self-esteem. It doesn’t just happen; it comes from things that happen to us as we grow, through childhood and into adulthood,” she said.

“These experiences affect our self-esteem, and once that happens, you are not able to perform to your full potential in your career and relationships. I wrote this book for people who were once like me.”

According to her, addressing the issue became important because it was affecting her ability to pursue her ambitions.

“I had a lot of self-esteem issues throughout childhood, my teenage years and early adulthood,” she recalled. “It got to a point where I needed to address them because I am a very ambitious person, and low self-esteem was stopping me from reaching my full potential. That was frustrating me.”

Awo Yaa Manubea I said the effects of low self-esteem can extend beyond individuals to their relationships, families and workplaces.

She said the book draws on her personal experiences as well as psychological and clinical research into the effects of low self-esteem.

“I have done a lot of psychological and clinical research on how low self-esteem affects how you perform as a person,” she said. “This isn’t just about me writing anything; that research is what brought me to writing this book.”

She said one of the key messages is the importance of prioritising personal wellbeing and establishing healthy boundaries.

“The major takeaway should be putting yourself first in every area of your life; doing what’s best for you, whether at work, at home, with your children or in marriage. It’s about understanding and having boundaries.”

Dr Father Abraham Sika-Boamah of Wisdom World Impact, a leadership mentor, author and entrepreneur, said the initiative was aimed at promoting discussions around self-love and self-worth.

“We envisioned having something like this, we worked very hard, and we were able to achieve what we set out to achieve,” he said.

He said the initiative would continue beyond the book launch, with a Self-Love Conference planned for April 2027. An exact date has not yet been announced.



The organisers also plan to hold community outreach programmes and workshops on self-love, self-worth and healthy relationships, including activities targeting schools.

“We also intend to visit children in their communities, educate people on self-love and organise workshops. We will be factoring in schools so we can teach children how to love themselves and that will definitely affect how they love other people,” he said.

For Awo Yaa Manubea I, self-love should not be confused with selfishness. She believes that developing a healthy sense of self-worth can help people make better decisions, establish boundaries and build healthier relationships.

Through the book and planned outreach activities, she hopes to encourage people to examine personal experiences that may affect their confidence and prevent them from reaching their potential.