On March 7, 2025, the Grand Arena was the venue for a remarkable event where women from various backgrounds gathered to create history at the 7th National Women’s Summit & Expo.
Hosted at the renowned Grand Arena, this gathering solidified its status as Ghana’s premier conference for women in honor of International Women’s Day.
The yearly National Women’s Summit has emerged as a key component of Ghana's dedication to achieving gender equality.
Six years ago, what began as a small project initiated by Charterhouse has grown into an impressive event where women gather to exchange ideas, provide guidance, and motivate one another.
Theresa Oparebea Ayoade, who leads Charterhouse and organized the summit, couldn’t hide her delight as she greeted an eclectic gathering comprising teenagers, experienced professionals, top business leaders, and respected queen mothers.
The event wasn't merely another conference; it was an empowering gathering across different age groups celebrating women who were excelling and supporting one another. Listening intently as Mrs. Ayoade recounted her experiences, everyone present understood that no woman succeeds independently—mentorship, building connections, and personal growth are essential for tapping into hidden capabilities.
Her appeal to the audience went like this: "Instead of merely discussing gender equality, let's expedite our actions!" This could certainly be considered an urgent rallying cry. Her statements sparked a shared determination among those present. It is high time for action, and every individual—from young women to influential entrepreneurs and policymakers—must contribute their part.
In terms of impactful moments, Efua Ghartey, who serves as the President of the Ghana Bar Association and was the keynote speaker, gave an inspiring speech about the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024. She urged everyone in attendance to go further than just implementing the act; she stressed the importance of making certain that this legislation becomes part of everyday practice and leads to genuine shifts within institutions. Mrs. Ghartey emphasized that "real empowerment is attained not through gifts, but by taking action."
Nana Yaa Owusu-Ansah, who serves as the Beauty & Personal Care Marketing Director at Unilever Ghana & Francophone Africa, illuminated the topic of 'Women in Agribusiness' during an exclusive Industry Spotlight session added to the summit. This engaging section underscores the significant impact women have within Ghana’s agricultural business landscape, celebrating their achievements, addressing their obstacles, and recognizing their essential roles in driving progress within this field.
As the lead sponsor of the summit, she highlighted the crucial part played by women in agribusiness and how well it aligns with the Geisha brand. "We at Geisha are extremely pleased to continue our role as the main sponsor for this influential gathering of strong women."
Similar to the remarkable women we celebrate today, Geisha finds its power from nature’s caring embrace. Filled with natural components such as cocoa, coconut, lemon, aloe vera, and rose, Geisha moisturizes the skin—just as the women cultivate the very ingredients that energize our brand. Supporting female farmers is not only part of our objective but also the foundation upon which Geisha thrives."
She proceeded to announce an ambitious brand commitment, detailing the measures Geisha is implementing to empower women in Agribusiness. "Geisha is now making significant advances to speed up development within the sector. We're initiating a countrywide program aimed at identifying and backing 10 innovative young females who aspire to enter the realm of agribusiness."
These ladies will participate in an extensive training program aimed at equipping them with the necessary skills to thrive. Additionally, each participant will be granted initial funding from Geisha to help develop their enterprises.
When women in agribusiness succeed, they not only expand but also inspire others to follow. Geisha isn’t merely funding their enterprises; she’s unlocking their capabilities and fostering a prosperous future brimming with plentiful yields."
Throughout the entirety of the event, there was an ongoing series of discussions featuring some of the brightest thinkers and most successful female leaders delving deeply into crucial topics such as surmounting obstacles to women’s leadership in corporate and governmental spheres, along with the complexities of Affirmative Action legislation.
Panel discussions
Speed Up Progress: Removing Obstacles for Women in Corporate Sectors (Public & Private)
This session delved into the obstacles women still encounter in corporate settings, especially when overcoming hurdles within both public and private industries. The conversation included discussions on these topics:
- Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland, the High Commissioner of Barbados to Ghana, offered an enlightening viewpoint on global women’s leadership.
- Maidie Elizabeth Arkutu, Ex-CEO of Unilever and Senior Business Leadership Consultant, imparted her vast knowledge on shattering corporate glass ceilings.
- Sophia Karen Edem Ackuaku, a former Member of Parliament for Domeabra Obom, contributed significant wisdom gained during her time in public service.
- Sheila Minkah-Premo, the Convener of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition Center, concentrated her efforts on addressing the legal and systematic obstacles to achieving gender equality.
- Janet Sunkwa-Mills, CEO of Jane'M Salon & Spa and Chairperson of the Executive Women Network, discussed overcoming mental obstacles for advancement.
Panel discussion on women in business – females excelling in commerce and startups
An outstanding panel with some of the most successful businesswomen in Ghana shared their individual stories and professional insights. The participants were:
- Felicia Twumasi, the CEO and founder of Ghana Home Foods, spoke about expanding enterprises in a crowded marketplace.
- Deloris Frimpong Manso, the CEO of Delay Foods, discussed her journey as an entrepreneur in a swiftly changing sector during the event.
- Angela Mensah-Poku, the Chief Enterprise Business Officer at MTN, contributed a technological viewpoint to aid in business expansion.
- Amma Gyampo, the CEO of Ghana Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (GVCA), delved into the realm of investments and emphasized the importance of greater female involvement in venture capital.
- Rebecca Enyornam Ahadzi, the Coordinator of the Affirmative Action Coalition, discussed the overlap between gender policies and business prospects when she spoke.
The summit continued with an MTN SME Impact Hub providing technology-driven solutions for enterprises aiming to enhance their efficiency.
Youth Leadership and Career Conference
The summit featured an interactive Youth Leadership & Career Forum, which was one of the highlights of the event. During this session, TotalEnergies conducted aCareer Guidance Workshop aimed at providing insightful tips to aspiring female leaders of tomorrow.
Throughout the day, the energy kept escalating thanks to impactful sessions paired with rapid mentorship opportunities organized alongside the Executive Women’s Network. This gave emerging female leaders a special chance to engage directly with experienced guides.
This wasn't merely an occasion for career guidance; it was also a platform for young women to grasp each opportunity, confidently embrace their strength, and acquire the skills needed to fulfill their potential as future leaders.
Naturally, a get-together of ladies isn’t considered complete without some shopping involved, so the event featured an array of woman-owned enterprises ranging from packaged foods and herbs/spices to clothing, as well as products for health and wellness.
Many found the core message of the summit straightforward: "Despite the hurdles and prejudices faced by women, through determination and steadfastness, everything can be achieved." Regardless of whether one is an entrepreneur, a student, a corporate leader, or a public servant, the 7th National Women’s Summit & Expo underscored for everyone that the future belongs to females—and what stands between us and our aspirations is merely the actions we have yet to undertake. The gathering was aired live on Joy FM and also livestreamed via the summit’s social media channels.
The 7th National Women’s Summit & Expo was successfully organized by Charterhouse, thanks to the main sponsorship from Geisha, along with support from MTN and contributions from Frytol, TotalEnergies, Bayport, Enterprise Life, and JOY FM. Here’s to continued progress until we meet again next year; ladies, let’s continue driving change... The future lies within our grasp.
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