The UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC), in collaboration with the British High Commission, hosted its second consecutive International Women's Day Networking Brunch on Friday, March 14, 2025. The event, sponsored by British Airways and held at the British High Commissioner’s residence, was themed “Enhancing Women’s Leadership and Representation in Decision-Making Across Industries.” The objective was to promote actionable strategies that empower women to thrive in leadership positions while also acknowledging the crucial role men play as allies in this transformative journey.
In an interview at the event, Adjoba Kyiamah, the Executive Director of the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of organizing events like this to uplift women and break down barriers globally. “We collaborated with the Human Development Team at the British High Commission to discuss the need to accelerate change and advance the cause of women. Business challenges do not discriminate based on gender. Our annual business climate and competitiveness survey, which we have been running since 2019, consistently shows the same issues—access to finance, government bureaucracy, tax frustrations, and electricity challenges, whether it's the cost or access to power. These are the same challenges faced by female business owners, and that is why we are here,” Kyiamah said.
The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, addressed the gathering of business leaders, executives, government representatives, and young professionals. She called for bold and immediate action to eliminate the barriers women face in their pursuit of leadership roles across various sectors. Thompson emphasized that the theme of this year's International Women's Day (IWD), “Accelerate Action,” is not just a slogan; it is a call to dismantle these barriers more swiftly and effectively. “While acknowledging the progress made over the years with the celebration of IWD and advancements across industries, we still encounter significant obstacles in securing leadership positions. It requires urgent, collaborative efforts, but I am optimistic that the presence of attendees signals a shared commitment to advancing gender equality, whether in the workplace, the boardroom, or beyond,” she stated.
The highlight of the event was a panel discussion moderated by Thompson, focusing on practical solutions to empowering women in leadership roles. The panelists identified key factors for success, such as self-belief, mentorship, sponsorship, taking risks, advocating for women’s issues, and reducing over-reliance on others. The panellists included Ellen Sarfo Kantanka, Head of Legal at Total Energies Ghana; Mukesh Thakwani, CEO of B5 Plus Group; Emmanuel Osei Ntim, General Manager at The Fon Group; Julia Baidoe-Ansah, Creative Director of Efatabyjuba Clothing Brand; Melissa Bediako, Director of Sales and Marketing at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra; and Jessie Jacintho, General Counsel at GCB Bank PLC.
In related news, Access Bank announced plans to honour the Power of 100 awardees during its upcoming International Women’s Day (IWD) conference scheduled for March 28, 2025. This initiative aims to celebrate remarkable achievements of women demonstrating outstanding leadership, innovation, and societal impact across various industries in Africa. According to Access Bank, the Power of 100 initiative is part of its ongoing commitment to recognizing and supporting women who drive change and create opportunities for others.
Chizoma Okoli, Deputy Managing Director of Access Bank, expressed her excitement for the upcoming celebration, stating, “At Access Bank, we believe in the power of women to drive progress and transformation in society. The Power of 100 awardees represent a diverse group of trailblazers whose resilience, passion, and dedication inspire the next generation of female leaders. We are honoured to celebrate them at this year’s International Women’s Day Conference.”
Nene Kunle-Ogunlusi, Head of Women Banking at Access Bank, confirmed that the conference will feature insightful panel discussions, keynote addresses from industry leaders, networking opportunities, and an awards ceremony highlighting the achievements of the Power of 100 recipients. “The Access Bank International Day event will serve as a platform to encourage dialogue on gender inclusion, leadership, and economic empowerment for women. The Bank remains committed to promoting initiatives that create an enabling environment for women to thrive,” Kunle-Ogunlusi explained.
With over 700 branches across Africa, Europe, and Asia, Access Bank aims to provide attendees valuable insights, inspiration, and opportunities to connect with individuals committed to advancing gender equality. Individuals, entrepreneurs, professionals, and organisations from both the public and private sectors are invited to register for the event, ensuring a broad reach and participation in these essential discussions surrounding women’s leadership.
