Queen Mother Awo Yaa Manubea I, Mawerehemaa of Kyekyewere, has launched her debut book, It All Begins With Self Love, drawing on her own struggle with low self-esteem to encourage others to prioritize their wellbeing and set healthy boundaries.
The British-Ghanaian royal, who is the first British-born Ghanaian to be enstooled as a Queen Mother in the Eastern Region of Ghana in April 2024, launched the book in Accra on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at a ceremony attended by traditional leaders, dignitaries and well-wishers, including Obaapayin Florence Abena Agyeman, Barimah OK Okunini Kwame Gyebi Ababio II and Naa Ayawa Niatse I. Dr Father Abraham Sika-Boamah of Wisdom World Impact, a leadership mentor, author and entrepreneur, delivered the keynote address on self-love.
Speaking to the media after the launch, the Queen Mother thanked guests for their support. “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.
For Awo Yaa Manubea I, the book is more than a literary debut; it is the product of a personal journey shaped by years of grappling with low self-esteem and a determination to understand its roots.
“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, explaining the inspiration behind the book. “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.”
She said the struggle had trailed her through much of her own life. “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.”
The book, she added, draws on both lived experience and research. “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.”
Its central message, she said, is permission to put oneself first without guilt. “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, who led the initiative behind the launch, credited its success to a shared vision and sustained effort. “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 disclosed that the project will extend beyond the book, with a Self-Love Conference planned for April 2027; an exact date has yet to be announced. Plans also include community outreach programmes and workshops on self-love and self-worth, with schools among the intended audiences
“We also intend to visit children in their communities, educate people on self-love and organize 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.
He described It All Begins With Self Love as an educational, practical book with broad appeal. “The book is very educative, and it relates to everybody. That’s the beauty of it; it makes you feel like we are talking about you in person,” he said.
For Awo Yaa Manubea I, though, the message remains personal: self-love, she insists, is not selfishness but the foundation for a healthier life and stronger relationships with others.
It All Begins With Self Love is now available through online bookstores following its official launch in Accra.
The event was powered by Wisdom Impact World, with ICS Africa serving as the production company partner.