The Executive Women Network (EWN) has celebrated five (5) years of impact, empowerment, and support to women in Senior Management and Executive positions, at an Annual Conference in Accra, Ghana.
The Conference, the 4th by the network, was held on the theme, “Impacting Women Leaders: Inspiring Lessons,” and brought together hundreds of leading figures in private organizations, entrepreneurs and other significant stakeholders.
The two-day hybrid conference, highlighted the progress women are making in empowering each other as business leaders and entrepreneurs. It also underscored the gaps and obstacles to surmount for women to command their rightful place in the socio-economic development of their communities.
The Chairpersons for the conference, Bio-Engineering Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann and global Finance expert, Jude Kofi Bucknor, urged participants to commit to championing change in their communities, organizations and the country.
Opening the conference, Eunice Biritwum – Founder & CEO of Iribe Energy and Team Lead of USAID’s West Africa Energy Program, emphasised the transformational journey of the Network since the first annual conference in 2017. She said, “When I look at what we have been able to achieve in this short space of time, I can proudly say that when women Inspire, Empower and Support each other, there is no limit to what can be accomplished. We are influencing policy and directives across Africa to change the narrative on female leadership in various spheres of society”.
Change is coming
Ibukun Awosika – Founder & CEO, The Chair Center Group and the keynote speaker, challenged delegates to be conscious of the transformative power women wield when positioned at decision making levels and recognize the far-reaching benefits of women in leadership. She said, “the case for balancing the power equation in leadership has never been more clear: elevating women in decision-making benefits politics, businesses, and communities. However, progress in women leadership will not happen automatically. Let’s not relent in working hard, consistently developing and growing our personal lives and professional careers.”
The Conference had two inspiring panel discussions with panellists proposing practical solutions and recommendations that highlight innovation, diversity, and transformational leadership skills for personal and professional impact. An engaging fireside chat anchored by Uncle Ebo Whyte, a Playwright and CEO of Roverman Productions and a Branding chat with Dzigbordi Kwaku-Dosoo of Dzigbordi Consulting Group, provided tangible steps for young women leaders to build credible and reputable personal brands that add value to their external outlook.
EWN Regional Clubs
To expand its presence and to impact more women across the country, EWN’s Executive Committee announced the first phase of its Regional Club project in second cycle and tertiary institutions to be launched in the Northern Region with full support from the Ghana Education Service and SWIBA Ghana. Pioneer schools for this phase include Tamale Girls Senior High School, Tamale Senior High School, Savelugu Senior High School, University of Development Studies and Tamale Training College. The vision of the Network is to make these hubs the platform for mentoring rising female entrepreneurs and young women in educational institutions across the country.