Vice-President underscores need to support women initiatives

The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for collective efforts to support women-led initiatives and promote gender equality. 

She said empowering women was not a threat to society but a benefit for all.

“So, we need everybody, whether we are the private or public sector, wherever we are, let us be mindful to support women, women led initiatives, and advocate women's rights for women's empowerment,” she said.

Speaking at the 10th Ghana Women of Excellence Awards and gala dinner last Friday, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang called for accelerated action to ensure women’s progress benefits the entire nation.

“Empowering women is not just a personal issue, nor is it solely a women’s issue. It is a national issue. It is a global issue,” she said.

Awards

The awards ceremony was organised by Top Brass Ghana on the theme “Empowering the Ghanaian Women for National Development”.

It was to celebrate the achievements of Ghanaian women, motivate them to strive for excellence and set up award winners as role models for the younger generation.

The event was also to mark the International Women’s Day.

The first Ghana Women of Excellence Awards was organised on March 9, 2011. Subsequent editions of the awards were staged in 2012, 2015 and annually since 2019.

Inclusive

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said there was a need to create an inclusive society where opportunities are accessible to all women, regardless of their background.

She said “It is not enough to celebrate individual successes; we must build systems that uplift more women and remove the barriers that hinder their progress”.

The Vice-President urged all stakeholders to dismantle barriers that hindered women’s advancement, particularly in education, economic empowerment and leadership.

“Education, even when access is limited, has far-reaching benefits — it empowers individuals, strengthens communities, and drives national growth,” she said.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang reaffirmed her commitment to acknowledge women’s role in national development. 

Commendation

The Vice-President, who was a recipient of the award in its inaugural year, commended the organisers for a decade of honouring outstanding Ghanaian women.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang congratulated the awardees, saying, “Your contributions reaffirm the truth that when women rise, nations rise”.

She said even as progress was being made, challenges still persisted.

“We must work tirelessly to address these disparities and ensure that regardless of background, every woman has access to opportunities, resources for self-improvement and a place in shaping national development,” she added.

Award winners

Altogether, 22 meritorious Ghanaian women were honoured.

They are a pharmacist, entrepreneur and policy advisor, Dr Bernice Makafui Brempong; founder and President of African Centre for Technical Training, Penelope Brooke Thompson; founder of FemAfricMaths, Dr Angela Ankomaah Tabiri; Manager of Yakam Hotel Limited, Yaa Owusu-Baafi; a stalwart of Ghana's rural banking fraternity, Comfort Owusu, and an internationally renowned academician and research scientist, Isabella Akyinbah Quakyi.

Others are Advisor to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana and the Principal of the National Banking College, Gloria Darline Quartey; the Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur; the Chief Operating Officer of Consolidated Shipping Agencies, Linda K. Vasnani; a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) , Emelia Boatemah Osei Derkyi, and a legal practitioner and Coordinator of the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, Becky Enyonam Ahadzi.

The list also includes the Acting Secretary of Ghana’s National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council, Winnifred Akoto-Sarpong; a healthcare professional and Chairperson of the 10th Governing Council of Institute of Directors-Ghana, Rev. Angela Carmen Appiah; an Emerita Professor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Elizabeth Ardayfio-Schandorf; founder and President of Customer Experience Professional Ghana Association, Esther Dokuwaa Ofosuhene; the Adotehene of Kwaku Mpraeso, Nana Krobea Asante; the Managing Partner of 2MB Consulting Services Limited, Florence Mangwe Hutchful; the Ghana Revenue Authority Female Hockey Team, the Royal Ladies; a Chartered Global Management Accountants, Emelia Boatemah Osei Derkyi; a seasoned international consultant, Joana Adzoa Opare; a chemical engineer, Theresa Randolph; Professor of Medical Microbiology, Dorothy Yeboah-Manu, and electrical engineer and certified Adult Trainer, Sophia Abena Tijani.