The Business Executive Magazine - Issue No. 89

Rev. Dr. Gifty PROFILE
Akushika Lamptey

– Philanthropist extraordinaire

Rev. Dr. Mrs. Gifty Akushika Lamptey is a businesswoman
and philanthropist extraordinaire who is changing
peoples’ lives in West Africa and beyond. Mama Gifty,
as she is affectionately known in Ghana, is a respected
businesswoman with a heart for philanthropy who is breaking
novel grounds in the business community in Ghana.

Her star businesses offer products and services that have
dominated the Ghanaian market till date. She is not
just respected for her unique management style in her
companies but she is equally respected among the religious
society in Ghana and West Africa as a woman of faith who
has built a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Ladies of
the Cross International.

In 1990, she was engaged in the food processing business
which later expanded to exporting mushroom, papaya
and others. That same year, she started Gemanuel, a civil
and building construction company. Together with her late
husband, Hon. David Lamptey, she diversified into agro-
processing that saw the birth of Sidalco Ltd. which grew into
the Sidalco Group of Companies

Rev. Dr. Gifty is the current CEO of Sidalco Group of empowered and commissioned back into their communities.
Companies, the mother company of other successful The fellowship places a strong emphasis on giving back to the
subsidiaries, including Dominion International Petroleum Ltd, community. Hence it continues to be involved in enhancing
Sidalco Construction and Roads Ltd, DEL Estates and Empire the lives of the communities they are involved in, especially
Concretes Ltd. Her unique management style which has the lives of women and children.
led to the phenomenal growth of the Sidalco Group over
a decade has kept the company’s products on the front She is an elected life member of the Institute of Directors,
shelves on the Ghanaian market. United Kingdom. Rev. Dr. Lamptey is a recipient of several
high-profile awards and recognition. She was awarded an
Sidalco Group has provided cutting edge solutions to many honorary doctorate degree in Divinity on 30th August, 2014.
cash crop farmers, especially in the production of cocoa In 2017, she was given another honorary degree from the
since 1992. Whenever you consume cocoa products from Zaporozhye State Medical School in Russia. In 2017, she was
Ghana anywhere in the world, Sidalco made it possible to made an Ambassador of Women in Africa by Peristrofi World
guarantee good yield, great quality and the great taste that Honorary International. She received a commendation by
puts Ghana’s cocoa as second to none in the world. Under the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, United States (US), in
her capable leadership, Rev. Dr. Lamptey has been able to 2015.
break grounds into the petroleum industry in Ghana having
been licensed as a bulk oil trading company in 2012 and She is the winner of the African Female Champion Award
a concrete batch plant in 2014. Her aim and dream as the at the South American African Middle East Asia Amazons
Executive Chairperson is to build the Sidalco Group to build a Awards in 2015. She was inducted into the Global Leadership
sustainable and global business. Hall of Fame in 2015. She was awarded the Feminine Ghana
Achievement Award.
She combines her business acumen with her strong religious
principles to support many underprivileged in Ghana through She completed Keta Secondary School 1984, and continued
community-based projects like portable drinking water, to Ho Polytechnic in 1985 where she studied Advanced
support for orphanages and community schools and for Catering and Institutional Management and received a
persons living with disabilities. HCIM in 1988. She worked with Ambassador Hotel in the same
year. She holds a BA (Hons) in Christian Psychology and a
Rev. Dr. Lamptey’s passion for supporting the underprivileged Master’s degree from Dayspring University, US.
in society led to the establishment of Ladies of the Cross
International. The NGO, which is Christian faith based, was She is blessed with three children and loves to read and listen
set up with the mission to empower women, educate them to music during her leisure time.
on their marital, social and civil right; encourage them to
participate in entrepreneurship projects; and support the
needy in society through orphanages, relief and inner-city
missions.

The objective of the ministry is to act as an enabler for
women, their children and the communities they represent in
order to help identify their God-given talents, where they are

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 013

PROFILE

Alima Bello

– Creative Director-Bello|Edu

Alima Bello is the Creative Director, Bello|Edu’s label is timeless
owner, the founder and designer
of Bello|Edu, a contemporary Bello Edu is a label out of Ghana that focuses on a
womenswear brand located in style that is timeless. Bello|Edu is a fashion brand
Accra, Ghana. designed for women to amplify esteem, purpose and
a lust for life. Its brand mantra is to choose minimalism
Alima is a graduate of the University of Ghana over excess, add value not mass and to be wherever
Business School where she received a BSc in function meets great aesthetics. Led by its founder and
Insurance. After graduation, she joined her creative lead, Alima Bello, and supported by a small
family-owned oil mill and refinery plant and workforce, the brand produces two major collections
worked her way up as its operations manager. a year, which are responsibly manufactured in Ghana
She attributes her Nigerian and Ghanaian with fabrics sourced internationally.
heritage as playing a major role in her flair for
aesthetics. Debuting in 2014, the brand was nominated for 2015
Ghana Fashion Award Emerging Fashion Brand.
She started designing and creating clothes Each piece is designed and produced for versatility
for her family and friends in 2008. “It all began but stays true to structure and form taking into
in 2008 in Kumasi, Ghana. It had become consideration the five pillars of the brand: Passion,
increasingly difficult to find anything I wanted Functional, Empowering, Contemporary and Joie
to wear in any of the local shops and retail de Vivre. Bello|Edu’s identity continues to grow
outlets so I started designing my own pieces. with its aspirational approach to design, quality and
Initially, I started by giving designs to my craftsmanship.
mother’s seamstress to make for me. During this
period, I studied the art of design and pattern
making. As my interest grew, I extended the
clothing being produced to friends and
family. Two years after that, I quit working for
our family business, moved to Accra to take a
part time course in pattern drafting and now here we
are,” Alima narrated to one interviewer.

She added: “My career in fashion was born out of
necessity. I grew up in a city where it was difficult to
find a style aesthetic I could relate to. I needed to be
different. I needed clothes that were straight to the
point. No fuss. And thus, Bello Edu was born.”

In 2010, she took some time off to study fashion
designing and pattern drafting in order to further
develop her passion. Her first collection was debuted
in June 2014; and in November 2017 she opened
the doors to the brand’s flagship store. Her other
work experience include business development
in the advertising industry, and the commercial
management of an aviation-related business. Her goal
is to steadily build a global brand that will contribute to
Africa’s success stories.

Alima several international and local fashion events
like the Ghana Fashion & Design Week. She and her
brand have also been featured in ‘Wanted Magazine,’
‘The Edit,’ ‘Teen Vogue’ and ‘Jardin du Luxembourg.’
“Love her sophisticated and timeless designs. I hope
she sells internationally,” one admirer noted on social
media.

014 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Vanessa Addo:

Paragon of youth entrepreneurship

Vanessa Addo is an imposing paragon of youthful www.vaniado.com | landline 0302 786 021 | cell phone 0244 380 293
entrepreneurism, intelligence, creativity
and holistic beauty. But above all, Vanessa
represents an African woman: young, full of
solutions and bears liberation in her hands.

Vanessa has duly paid her dues and joined the league
of African women that are making a difference on the
continent; Africa’s leading strategic Helmspersons.

In 2001, Vanessa established VANIADO Company
Limited, the high-flying corporate entity and industrial
trailblazer that has brought Italy’s and the world’s
leading shelf bathroom and tile brands to Ghanaian
homes. That is VANIADO has brought the luxury of Italy
to Ghana. In just a decade, the company has become
the reference point for the industry.

The mission of VANIADO Company Limited is to
provide its clients with bespoke bathroom wares and
tiles from the best designers and creators in the world
at incomparable prices. The vision of the company to
be the icon of exclusive signature brands in bathroom
wares and tiles. Its core values are integrity, uniqueness
of client, customer confidentiality and only signature
quality; while its unique strengths include pursuit of client
satisfaction at all times; efficiency in service delivery at
all times; maintenance and after sales service; a promise
of top-notch quality well-kept vision; and to be the icon
of exclusive signature brands in bathroom wares and
tiles.

In 2001, Vanessa established VANIADO Company
Limited, the high-flying corporate entity and industrial
trailblazer that has brought Italy’s and the world’s
leading shelf bathroom and tile brands to Ghanaian,
Nigerian, Burkinabe and Ivorian homes, bringing the
luxury of Italian products to Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina
Faso and Cote d’ Ivoire. In just a decade, the company
has become the reference point for the industry. And
for many, this does not come as a surprise. It should
not when you know the personality of the architect of
VANIADO, Vanessa Addo.

As a result of the company’s performance, Vaniado
ventured into the hospitality industry by establishing
Axis Suites and was commended by the Ghana Tourism
Authority with a Certificate of Excellence as business
which operates with international best practice.

She is a designer of international repute, certified in
Italy with a Diploma in Life Skills cum Diploma in Interior
and Fashion designing from the Queensland, England.
All these build up into an individual lady of class. This
individual lady of class coming into contact with wares
of luxury from Italy, the masters of art somewhere in
Europe, creates a conspiracy to spoil those who care to
indulge in the purchase of the made-in-Italy products.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 015

PROFILE

mRS. AFUA

KROBEA ASANTE:

Queen of Ghanaian Cuisine

Afua Krobea Asante, Founder and CEO of ‘You know, about 65% of my customers are foreigners,
Azmera Restaurant is the veritable queen of and I know how to adapt to their needs: Our chefs are
the Ghanaian cuisine. Her first-class eatery using less salt, much less spice and refined oils from
has been considered a haven for authentic Ghana and beyond.’ I guess Afua’s strategy is a winning
mouthwatering Ghanaian meals. one: Over the years her business has grown considerably,
and today she employs 50 workers. I have to say: The
Afua is a challenge-driven, result-oriented and energy- food was really good, and I tried many things which I
filled entrepreneur whose indefatigability witnessed had never eaten before. ‘Come back and bring many
the success of her food business which she set up from friends!’ Afua told me when we left. Yes, she’s a very
scratch. Her love and pride for Ghanaian culture is good business woman - and on top my face number.”
unparalleled and this is evident in the way Azmera This is a testimony: “Always a feast at #Azmera (which
Restaurant is operated. means a harvest) whenever I’m in #Accra. Today, I tried
what they call the ’United Nations’ soup (fish, meat,
Since it was set up in 2009, Azmera Restaurant has had a chicken and every other meat I don’t know) with my
track record of guest satisfaction due to maintaining high usual jollof, waakye, cow and goat light soup. Yummy,”
standards of food, beverage and services. Afua strives to #AfricanPot #ThebeTravelsAfrica tweeted recently.
push Azmera to become one of the best restaurants in
the world. Afua’s penchant for excellence has won her numerous
awards. The African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE),
As the matron of one of Ghana’s busiest restaurants, Afua through its flagship network, WomanRising, named
Krobea Asante has a lot on her plate, from managing a her among its 2017 100 Most Outstanding Women
team of 50, to ensuring each dish is cooked just so that Entrepreneurs list. The list features Ghanaian women
numerous customers will relish with satisfactory approval, entrepreneurs whose achievements and exceptional
and visit again to satiate their appetite. milestones have been outstanding.

Having established her superiority in the local cuisine With a humble upbringing in Twenedruase, a village in
catering and hospitality industry for over 25 years, Afua the Eastern Region of Ghana, Afua found out at a very
has played an active role in promoting Ghanaian early stage of the importance of respect, hard work and
culture, not only through her cuisine, but also with the truth. These are what she employs in running her business.
entire set up of Azmera Restaurant. Azmera Restaurant It is these same qualities that she instills in the hundreds of
stands out due to its modernized indigenous fashionable Ghanaian caterers she has trained over the years.
image and diverse Ghanaian cuisine it offers.

Azmera Restaurant is considered a home of authentic
Ghanaian cuisine located in Roman Ridge as it is a
comfortable and unique place to enjoy an amazing fine
dining experience in Accra. The restaurant offers a wide
range of local Ghanaian dishes served in an elegant
buffet style.

Good local food comes alive in the plush, cozy and stylish
setting of Azmera. According to one foreign customer
who wants to be unnamed, there is no better place to
have a satisfying lunch in Accra other than Azmera. The
restaurant also serves a variety of local drinks from palm
wine to lamugin and the likes for the patrons to wash
down their consumed delicacies.

On 27th March, 2019, another foreign customer wrote
this on his Facebook page: “Most Europeans might find it
a little bit too venturous to throw themselves into typical
Ghanaian food. After all it’s quite spicy and it comes with
lots of bones and strange ingredients. Afua noticed and
reacted. 10 years ago she opened her own restaurant
‘Azmera’ in Accra which specializes on all sorts of
Ghanaian dishes that are offered at a large buffet.
“’You can try a bit from everything and decide which
piece of food delights your taste buds,’ she explained to
me while I was still a bit hesitant and undecided whether
I should go for Banku, Light Fish Soup, Kenkey, Kelewele
or – the unavoidable and always tasty – Jollof Rice.

016 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Mrs. Josephine Gyasi’s

unmatched fashion and business sense

Her maiden name is Afia Aboagyewaa Josephine,
but she became Josephine Gyasi after marriage.

Josephine helped her husband, Nana Kwadwo
Gyasi to start a fitting blacksmith shop in 1981 at Magazine
Makro in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region. The
small-scale business gradually blossomed into a medium-
sized enterprise because of the excellent customer care
of the owner.

Before any one could say jack, Nana Gyasi started traveling
to Germany to import car spare parts to sell in Ghana. After
a serious disappointment from a firm he dealt with and the
constant currency fluctuations, he decided to change his
line of business.

Madam Josephine assisted her husband, Nana Gyasi, and
he founded Nana K. Gyasi Company Limited and started
importing building materials. They opened the first shop in
La Paz-Akweteyman in Accra. After some time, he set up
other branches in Kwashieman, Tantra Hills and Pokuase,
all in Accra; and Fomasua and Kumasi Ampamen, both of
which are in the Ashanti Region.

Mrs. Gyasi opened up on how Nana K. Gyasi Company
Limited became one of the best building materials importers
and dealers in the country today. “Due to Nana Gyasi’s
spirituality, he is always led by the spirit in the opening of
the branches which has led to 30 branches all over the
country and still counting. For me his wife, I was still taking
care of the spare parts shop in Magazine-Kumasi, since the
spare parts sales were not moving rapidly, he then bought
land and put up the head office for the building materials
in Ashanti Region.

“This is when I moved from selling spare parts to selling
building materials which is a men’s job. I have been
the head here since 1995 with quite a large number of
employees. I do all the travelling with my husband and
make the deals with him. God has been the backbone
of this company over the years and my children who are
both accountants have also taken on the responsibility of
making this firm achieve its vision,” she reveals.

She said the family is praying to God for this firm to move
from generation to generation and be the first point of
contact when it comes to building materials in Ghana. “I
however never let go of my dream over the years which
is my love for fashion and this has birthed the JOEGYASI
BOUTIQUE which is located in Magazine New Road in
Kumasi. I am looking to expanding and opening other
branches in the coming years,” she said.

Her contribution to growth and expansion of Nana K. Gyasi
Company informed The Business Executive to recognize
with the Feminine Ghana Achievement Awards. She joked
that though she has contributed much to the achievements
of the company, her husband has received more awards
than her.

Madam Josephine has been married since the year 1983,
and the 36 years of wedlock has been blessed with two
children, male and female. First child is called Samuel Kofi
Owusu Ansah Gyasi and the second is Yaa Afrah Gyasi.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 017

PROFILE

mRS. Shirley
Frimpong

–The outstanding Managing Director

Mrs. Shirley Frimpong has Technical University). Ultimate Customer Service: We believe
chalked accolades as a She also has certificates customers are the “anchor” of the company
corporate manager, auditor in Project Management and therefore do our best to understand
and accounts officer since and Forensic Audit from them amidst industry conditions, in order to
she started her career. Mrs. Frimpong has GIMPA and the British progressively bridge the gap.
extensive experience in audit and finance in Council respectively.
both the banking and the petroleum sectors. Integrity and Honesty: We value honesty and
She is married to Rev. transparency in dealing with colleagues and
She is the current Managing Director of Dr. Kwaku Frimpong, all stakeholders. Our zealous commitment
Eagle Petroleum Company Limited, a Managing Director of to integrity ensures that we operate within
popular bulk oil marketing which operates Frimps Oil and Chairman the specified standard of our regulatory
in Ghana. Mrs. Frimpong impressed her of the board of Loyalty Insurance. body and also make trust in the face of our
superiors with her adroit managerial acumen stakeholders a priority.
when she double-tasked as the General Eagle Petroleum Company
Manager for Frimps Oil, a position she held creates value for money Confidentiality: We acknowledge that our
for nine years, as well as an internal auditor employees will be exposed to valuable
until 2017 when she was offered position of Eagle Petroleum Company was incorporated information in the discharge of daily task
the Managing Director of Eagle Petroleum as a private limited liability company under and thus the need to uphold in high esteem
Company Limited. Ghana’s Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) the value of confidentiality.
in 2015. Eagle Petroleum is licensed by the
She has also worked with Oiltrade Company National Petroleum Authority as a Bulk Oil Operational performance & achievement
Ltd. as Managing Director. She also worked Distribution Company (BDC) and started Eagle Petroleum’s operations have grown
at Barclays Bank Ghana Limited from 2004 operating in August 2016. over 200% within a year of operation. As
to 2005. She did her National Service at a result, it has become one of the major
the Juaben National Youth Council as an Since its inception, the company has players in the oil and gas industry. The
Accounts Officer. maintained a key strategic position in the oil company’s major operational performances
and gas industry in Ghana, creating value for and achievements include: Through good
Mrs. Frimpong’s knowledge and experience money for its esteemed customers. Through financial and operational policies, it now
have been gainfully tapped by many the robust, integrated network of tankers boasts of having enough trading lines from
corporate organization in Ghana and and terminals that it uses, Eagle Petroleum its bankers and suppliers; it is able to secure
beyond. She is serving as a board member strives to supply customers with the best enough products and never short of supply
on several companies such as Frimps grade of petroleum products. It trades in to customers; and it makes all payments
Oil Company Limited, Eagle Petroleum Petrol (Gasoline), Diesel (Gasoil), Kerosene on time and in most cases earlier than the
Company Limited and Loyalty Insurance and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas). credit days of our suppliers. The others are:
Company Limited. it is good creditworthy with all of its suppliers
The company’s dedicated staff apply and has many banks willing to work with
Under her leadership, Eagle Petroleum industry-leading processes to ensure that it due to its trustworthiness; and it has won
Company was nominated and voted product integrity is maintained from the a couple of awards, including the “Silver
the Promising Oil and Gas Company of processing of customer’s request to terminal Partnership Award” by the Bulk Oil Storage
the Year (Downstream) at the Ghana Oil loading. It is committed to ensuring that all and Transportation (BOST) Limited for its
and Gas Awards (GOGA) in 2017. For her the petroleum products supplied are in strict loyalty and value to its business in 2016 and
successful career, she has been honored compliance with applicable governmental “The Most Promising Oil and Gas Company”
with many awards. Mrs. Frimpong was laws, rules and regulations. by the Ghana Oil & Gas Awards in the year
adjudged The Most Outstanding Female 2017.
Personality in Petroleum 2018 by Feminine The hallmark of Eagle Petroleum are granting
Ghana Achievement Award. She also won customers a peace of mind, ensuring CONTACT - Head Office: Advantage
the Accounting Personality of the Year 2017 product availability and maintaining its Place, 3rd Floor, Ridge, Accra. Telephone
organized by Women in Banking & Finance integrity. In terms of organizational structure, Number: +233 577 680 699. Email: info@
Magazine. She was awarded the Most it has a Board of Directors and Management eaglepetroleumgh.com
Outstanding Oil & Gas Executive 2016 by Team to steer its operations strategically and
Feminine Ghana Achievement Award. profitably.

She has an Executive Master of Business Its mission: Eagle Petroleum exists to be an
Administration (EMBA) in Project outstanding BDC with effective and efficient
Management from the University of supply of quality petroleum products to
Ghana, Legon. She holds a Bachelor of consumers in Ghana and beyond. The
Arts Degree in Accounting and Finance company’s vision statement is: Our vision is
from the Ghana Institute of Management to become a leading marketer of petroleum
and Public Administration (GIMPA) and a products in Ghana and beyond by giving
Higher National Diploma in Accountancy value for money.
from Kumasi Polytechnic (now Kumasi

018 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

Nana Akua A. PROFILE

Ankomah-Asare: advantages for its clients’ brands. Its other philosophy is it
strives to achieve and maintain high professional standards,
Innovative communicator and ensure increase in business and profit for continued
existence; and believes in investing in people so that it can
Nana Akua A. Ankomah-Asare is the Managing offer opportunities to staff to upgrade their knowledge and
Director of Primetime Limited, a communications skills; and provide training to them by sponsoring them to
company that offers services such as advertising take courses, both academic and professional.
campaign/marketing, communication planning, Its scope of work includes direct community contact;
Public Relations, direct community contact, multimedia multimedia productions (TV & Radio); brand advertising
productions (TV and Radio), market activations, and (PR); market research; market activations (experiential
market research. Primetime’s flagship programme, since social marketing); and advertising campaign/marketing
1993, is the National Science & Maths Quiz and Science communication planning, development and execution.
Festival, popularly known as the NSMQ. Not only does Primetime is the proud winner of several awards and
Primetime own the rights to the NSMQ, Primetime executes industry/peer recognition, most recent of which is the
every aspect of the programme, including the execution, Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana Award for the
event management, technical production, publicity, Best Television Programme 2017 to the National Science &
marketing, monitoring and evaluation and logistic support Maths Quiz. Others are the AAG 2006 Gong-Gong Awards,
for the programme. Gold Category for TV (Financial Sector) for the highly
successful campaign for the Re-denomination of the Cedi,
Mrs. Ankomah-Asare has, since 2013, brought innovation dubbed “The Value Is The Same,” AAG Gong-Gong Silver
and excitement to the National Science & Maths Quiz, for Award for television in 2003 for the Ministry Of Food and
which she is the Executive Producer. Through her efforts Agriculture project on weighing scales and the AAG Silver
and wide-ranging networking, she has built four innovative Gong-Gong Award for Radio in 2004, in recognition of the
and important events - Mentorship Sessions, Tours, Picnic well-executed campaign aimed at encouraging the use
and a science and technology fair, the Sci-Tech Fair of Mectizan to fight onchocerciasis.
into the popular quiz programme and thus turned it into Primetime is a platinum member of the Advertising
a month-long festival of excitement and enthusiastic Association of Ghana (AAG) and a member of the
interest in the study of Science and Maths. International Advertising Association, IAA.

She has also extended the popularity and relevance of the
programme by giving it a strong social media presence,
thereby giving it a more active and youthful appeal.
Strategic partnerships have also raised the profile of the
programme and brought corporate sponsors onto the
programme in a variety of innovative ways. The National
Science & Maths Quiz recently won the Award for the Best
Television Programme 2017 from the Chartered Institute of
Marketing, Ghana.

Mrs. Ankomah-Asare holds a Bachelor of Arts in French
and Spanish (with First Class Honours) and a Master of
Arts in Communication Studies, both from the University of
Ghana, Legon. She also holds a post-graduate diploma
in Africa Community Health Programme and a Master of
Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) in Communication and
Development Studies from the Ohio University, Ohio, USA.
She is married with two young daughters.

Primetime Limited leads with creativity

Primetime is a wholly-owned Ghanaian communications
consultancy incorporated in June 1992, and which
commenced business as a fully-fledged advertising agency
in January 1993. Its mission is to provide a more exciting
and cost-effective way of reaching target audiences while
exhibiting a high level of professionalism and taking care to
meet the strictest deadline, as a matter of course.

The business philosophy of Primetime is that it believes in
quality and strives toward achieving it; it thinks out new
and cost-effective ways of bringing clients closer to their
targets; seeks to build a company that has a human face,
and where everyone is part of a family; and believes in the
power of advertising to build competitive and sustainable

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 019

PROFILE

Mrs. Marilyn

Houadjeto

multi-tasking to success

Mrs. Marilyn Maame Efua Houadjeto is a strategic grow clients’ professional images through its market channels.
communicator with a passion for creativity. Mrs. It provides the best value for money with high quality standards
Houadjeto is results-driven and has a track record of at economical rates.
successfully and consistently exceeding goals and
objectives in event productions and project management. Image Consortium boasts of an outstanding mix of products
and services. It uses the following channels to create value for
Maame Efua, as she is affectionately called, is the CEO of its clients.
the Image Consortium Group which she founded in 2005,
and occupies that position till date. Image Consortium is Events and Logistics: With over 15 years of experience in event
the organizer of the International Building Construction and organization, it maintains high standards in its avenues for
Properties Exhibition and Conferences, an event that has been product and service presentations and display. Exhibitions and
held for 16 consecutive years. Fairs: The International Building Construction and Properties
Exhibition is an annual event that brings stakeholders,
Prior to setting up her own companies, she did her National suppliers, manufacturers and retailers of building materials and
Service at the State Protocol Department (Office of the equipment in the building construction industry under one roof
President) and worked with Stratcom Africa, Media Touch, to showcase their products and market them.
Charter House Productions and M-Plaza Hotel.
Furniture and Interiors Fair (FIF): The FIF creates the avenue
Maame Efua’s strength lies in building and maintaining long- for exploring and patronizing the latest and unique trends in
term relationships with clients. She is very skilled in organizing home interior design and furnishing. The fair brings together
and multi-tasking with a cost-effective approach to executing manufacturers and suppliers of exquisite furniture, lighting, wall
events. She is team-oriented and has not only sterling leadership decors, floor tiling, wall panels and paints, among many other
qualities but also has a positive attitude, pleasant disposition home improvement products.
and excellent interpersonal communication skills.
Media Productions and Publications: Image Consortium creates
Maame Efua is a product of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Girls media productions and publications services and products
Senior High School, Ho, where she did her GCE O’Levels and that communicates clients’ messages to their target market. In
A’levels. She continued in her mother’s footsteps and pursued Ghana, builders and home owners are faced with the evolving
a Diploma in Communications, Journalism and Marketing at realities of property development, rates and management.
Ghana Institute of Journalism. She obtained a Post Graduate So Image Consortium’s Builders’ Show is a television and radio
Diploma in Marketing at Ghana Institute of Management and program that informs and educates on the best tips and
Public Administration (GIMPA). practices, latest trends and cost effective methods of creating
At Conventry University (UK), she pursued a Post Graduate or developing building projects. The company also publishes
course in Engineering Project Management. She is currently ‘City Construction and Properties’ magazine which captures
pursuing an MSc in Engineering and Management. modern trends, innovations and issues which pertain to
creating, managing and living in urban spaces in West Africa.
Image Consortium: Champion of construction and events E-Marketing: Siadan is an online retailer of building construction
management materials, equipment and interior decor. Being Ghana’s first
online shop for sourcing building construction materials, it has
Image Consortium Limited is a renowned Ghanaian event partnered with authentic brands and companies within Accra
and marketing communications company which has, over that are committed to improving their customers’ experience
the years, communicated its clientele’s products to the right through convenience, accurate order fulfillment and timely
target per their requirements through exhibitions, seminars and delivery.
conferences, business trips, training programs and business-
to-business exhibitions. The company’s quest to achieve the
ultimate in the next construction revolution, thus furthering
development through innovation and professionalism in Africa.
Over 15 years, Image Consortium has executed many projects
under the auspices of the Ghana Ministry of Works and Housing
and recently the Ghana Ministry of Trade and Industry. Some
of its partners include local and International organizations
such as Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialist,
Chartered Institute of Builders, Ghana Institute of Architects,
Ghana Real Estate Developers Association and Association of
Ghana Industries.

Image Consortium enhances its client’s businesses through
effectively communicating their value propositions to the
key stakeholders in the building, construction and home
improvement industry. The company understands the value of
brand identity and marketing in business growth. So it seeks to

020 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Rev. Dr. francisca

Duncan Williams:

Preacher-motivational speaker

Rev. Dr. Francisca Duncan Williams is a preacher,
teacher and motivational speaker who has had many
engagements that have spanned the breadth of
churches and ministries across Africa, Europe and North
America. Mama Francisca, as she is affectionately called, has
served the Lord in ministry for over three decades.

Mama Francisca has always been passionate about family,
enterprise and education. Multi-gifted and equipped with a
broad knowledge base and years of experience, she has been
an efficient helper and problem-solver. Her greatest desire is to
be found faithful in her God-given assignment which is to be
at the helm and forefront of restoring and consolidating faith
in Christian families; and focusing on godly parenting and a
coherent Christian culture and value system that nurture children
into exceptional leaders.

She has a personal vision and mission to encourage, equip,
train and empower Christians, especially the youth, through
the agency of the written and spoken word of God. Gifted
in women’s ministry, she was the architect of ‘Women in Action’
worldwide and became very instrumental in founding and
establishing the Ghana Charismatic Pastors Wives Association.
She also contributed to the present success of Women’s Aglow
Fellowship International, Ghana.

In line with her vision to train and empower people, she founded
the Mama Francisca Network in Ghana to nurture and develop
diverse young talents. As a mentor, counselor and motivator, she
has influenced many persons who have gone on to make great
social impact in society. Doing what she does best as a trainer
under God’s direction, she has started her own theological
school called the Francisca Institute of Theology.

Mama Francisca is also the founder of Doxa Citadel, a church
and center for training and grooming the upcoming youth for
the Kingdom of God. She is the Chief Servant of the Doxa Citadel
Church. At the launch of the 10th anniversary of Education and
Management Training (EDMAT) Foundation, a Ghanaian non-
governmental organization (NGO) which is aimed at enhancing
efficiency and effectiveness in the education system, held at
the premises of Doxa Citadel in Haatso, a suburb of Accra, and
slated for 25th August, 2018, she solicited for support for EDMAT
Foundation. She also urged the contemporary youth to be rather
fashionable with Christ instead of the worldly fashion.

Blessed with the gift of writing, she has authored many books,
one of which is ‘The Theology of the woman’. Mama Francisca
has received numerous awards in recognition of her efforts that
testify to the divine approval and authenticity of her ministry. She
received over 10 awards in 2018, which include the Obaatanpa
award, Most Outstanding Woman for Spiritual Matters and the
Ghana Outstanding Women’s award. She has been named the
Mother of the Trinity Theological Seminary, and the Pentecostal
and Charismatic Community in Ghana.

A graduate of the Ramah Bible College in London, the United
Kingdom (UK), she holds a Master in Divinity (MDiv) and three
honorary doctorate degrees from the Living Word Church,
Baltimore, Maryland, the United States (US) and TAPAC in the UK.
She also obtained a Master in Divinity from Bethany International
in Singapore and a Doctor of Philosophy in Theological Studies
from U.A.T. She has four children and six grandchildren.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 021

PROFILE

Mrs. Adelaide

Anno-Kumi

plays with winning team

Mrs. Adelaide Pinaman Anno-Kumi (nee Amankwa) She attended the South Labadi Experimental Primary School,
is an educationist and a lawyer. She is proactive, South Labadi, and the Ringway Estates Girls Middle School
principled, industrious and an effective team where she sat for the common entrance examination and
player with multiple skills. gained admission to the Aburi Girls’ Secondary School (now
Aburi Girls’ Senior High School), where she obtained her ‘O’
Mrs. Anno-Kumi joined the Ghana Civil Service in June, 1990 and Level certificate. She is proud of ‘Beposo Hann” (Light on the
has since been working in the Civil Service as an administrator, Hill). She proceeded to Wesley College, Kumasi, where she
working in various Ministries such as Interior, Education, trained as a Certificate ‘A’ Teacher.
Transport, Food and Agriculture. She is well travelled, having
attended various conferences, seminars and workshops all It is interesting to note that Mrs. Anno-Kumi had the opportunity
over the globe. to teach at the South Labadi Experimental Primary as well as
the Ringway Estates Boys Middle Schools where she was a pupil
She mentors her subordinates and is a good role model. She teacher.
is an advocate of women empowerment with emphasis on
winning men to the side of women. She is a child development She wrote the ‘A’ Level exams at the Accra Workers College
enthusiasts. and gained admission into the University of Ghana, Legon in
1982 where she read Political Science and Religions for her first
She was born in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, on 26th October, 1959 degree. She did her National Service at the Military Academy
to the late Osei Bonsu Amankwa (alias OB) and Mrs. Elizabeth and Training schools in Teshie where she taught Government.
Amankwa. She hails from Nkwakom in the Atwima Nwabiagya She obtained LLB in 1997 from the Ghana School of Law. She
District of the Ashanti Region. has a certificate and Diploma in Public Administration from
the Ghana Institute of Public Administration (GIMPA). She is a
She is a Christian who worships at the Prisons Interdenominational member of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA).
Church. She had served on the Church Council on a number
of occasions and is currently the Legal Advisor to the Church. She got married to the late Lawyer Kwame Anno-Kumi over
She lectures on legal issues to the Women Fellowship and Youth twenty years ago.
Fellowship. She is a patron of the Young Adults Group in the
Church. She wished the continuous blessings of God to the
Clergy of Prisons Interdenominational Church.

Mrs. Anno-Kumi is grateful to the Almighty God for bringing
her this far. She is also grateful to her late husband Kwame
Anno-Kumi and son, Kwaku Anno-Kumi, Ato, Peter, Afua for
supporting her in journeying throughout her career path. She is
also grateful to her late father, Mr. Osei Bonsu Amankwa (alias
OB), and mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Amankwa, for sharing interest,
concern and support for her as she went the journey of life.

“To my siblings and my big cousin Emmanuel Kofi Owusu, I say
may God bless you for your continued love and support. To
my class of Aburi old Girls 1976 of whom I am President, I say
thank you. To my friends, Grace, Lydia, Lucky, Ohui, I say thank
you and God bless you. To all my bosses, former and present
Ministers, Deputy Ministers I have worked with, I thank you all
for mentoring me. To my current boss, Hon. Ambrose Dery,
(MP, Nandom), and Deputy Minister, Hon. Henry Quartey (MP,
Ayawaso Central), and the Head of the Civil Service, Nana
Agyekum Dwamena, I am really grateful and inspired by their
leadership. To all current staff of the Ministry of the Interior and
Head of agencies and their officers, directors and staff, I say
I am really humbled to be part of this family. I dedicate this
award to staff of the Ministry of the Interior for their valuable
support,” she said.

022 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

:Dr. Mrs. Akua Afriyie Sarpong Ayisa

The inimitable florist and décor queen

As a florist and events planner, Mrs. Akua Afriyie
Sarpong Ayisa is the queen of the floral decorations
industry in Ghana, as no competitors can challenge
her in finesse and execution.
Dr. (Mrs.) Ayisa is an accomplished entrepreneur who has
translated the traditional sale of flowers and events decor
into a lucrative industry in the country. With passion to create
unique ambience suitable for every occasion, she visualizes,
builds concepts out of visualization and translates them into
reality to add colour and glamour to events and venues.

In 1999, she founded the company Unique Floral Limited, of
which she is the CEO, and has grown the corporate entity to
become the leading name in the importation of fresh flowers
and events décor for two decades. Through her creativity,
she has brought happiness to her primary and secondary
clients. She has also provided employable skills to over 2,000
Ghanaians who now depend on their skills to make ends
meet while growing Ghana’s economy.

Dr. (Mrs.) Ayisa is a goal-oriented and passionate design, decor and styling. Its Events Palace located at Tema,
businesswoman who always makes sure that the targets she Community 9, has both a tent and garden with a stunning
sets are attained in order to meet the growing sophisticated location available for all events. Unique Floral also has a
needs of her clients. She has achieved her dream of evolving variety of fantastic accessories such as decorative items,
from a very humble beginning to a household name in flower vases, glassware and garden chairs for renting. It offers
Ghana and West Africa. She has expanded from retailing of everything from a casual ceremony to a formal church event
flowers to event planning and decoration as well as opening (with an amazing reception). To give a befitting send off for
of floral, event planning and decor training institute in Accra. customers’ departed loved ones, it provides event styling for
Her company has done décor for visiting heads of state, funerals and anniversaries.
national events, corporate and individual décor in Ghana
and some other West African countries. Her contribution to Unique Floral is proud to be the largest retailer of fresh and
the industry and corporate social responsibilities have won artificial flowers in West Africa. Its fresh flowers are imported
her several awards locally and internationally. The Business weekly from the exotic gardens of Holland, South Africa,
Executive Ltd. honoured her at the 5th Feminine Ghana Kenya and Ethiopia. It has own 20-acre floral farm in Aburi,
Achievements Award as the Best Achiever in Décor and Ghana. These enable it to provide its clients with the finest in
Wedding Planning in 2019. the home furnishing business. For years, it has specialized in
providing an extensive range of beautiful flowers and gifts, as
Dr. Mrs. Ayisa is a trained flight attendant who retired as the well as organizing high-standard events.
Head of In-flight at Ghana Airways, after having worked there
for 25 years. She studied Estate Management at the Kwame With over the 20 years of outstanding service, many things
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. She is married have changed for the once small flower shop. Unique Floral’s
to Air Commodore (Rtd.) Philip Ayisa and has seven children. floral arrangements will always touch the hearts of those you
She loves to mentor the younger generation and wants to care about most. Whether you are cheering up a friend,
be remembered for the advice and counselling she gives to saying sorry, or showing someone you love or care, its flowers
people, especially the youth, who are eager to make it to are the perfect way to make everybody feel very special.
the top.
The staff has increased and there are currently four branches.
Unique Floral designs innovative floristry and events The company has two event centres located at Tema and
Unique Floral is the leading and trusted floral and event Trade Fair in Accra, and it provides unique services no matter
decorating company in Ghana. The company has created a the location a client chooses. On 22nd November, 2017,
unique ambiance for events through floral decor using both Maamye Yaa Melobeat wrote thus on Facebook: “Unique
fresh and artificial flowers. It has used its specialty in the art floral is the best among the rest, their decorations are
of decoration to meet and exceed the expectations of its marvelous and extremely beautiful and they rock ur centers
clients. Be it simple or elegant arrangements, traditional or when u chose them.”
contemporary as well as for every occasion, the company
has something special to offer its many customers.

Unique Floral is the most accomplished florist and event
design firm that offers a complete range of innovative designs
in floristry and event design by providing unique and exquisite
floral as well as custom-made events decor with spectacular
finishings. It is also a recreation center.

The company offers fresh and artificial flowers for sale
and does floral arrangement at its branches at Trade Fair
and Dzorwulu in Accra and in Tema. It specializes in event

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 023

PROFILE

Madam Afi Amoro:

Enterprising self-made entrepreneur

Madam Afi Amoro is a successful quintessential, self- She was crowned the Most Outstanding Female Personality
made entrepreneur who quit her 17-year career in Interior & Exterior Décor at the 4th Feminine Ghana
as a public service secretary to turn what was her Achievement Awards in 2018.
hobby into a multi-million cedi business.
But most important has been her sheer drive which has
She combines her natural creative talent with her superb enabled her to overcome daunting odds during her career.
entrepreneurial skill and visionary approach to business in She offers invaluable advice to others who face seemingly
order to achieve excellence. “Entrepreneurship is about insurmountable challenges just as she did. “Use the challenges
creativity and innovation to provide solutions to unmet needs as stepping stones because with hindsight you realize that that
and about providing employment and supporting their growth attitude has always taken you to the next level. Introspection is
and development,” she asserts. always good for the body, mind and soul,” she says.

These belies the small beginnings from which Madam Amoro Madam Amoro went to the renowned Holy Child School, and
has transformed her company into such a phenomenal then to Ola Girls’ Secondary School where she obtained her
success. The enterprise started out of the love she had for GCE A’ Level certificate. As a mature student, she studied hard
flowers and horticulture and the joy she got from working with to get a Diploma in Public Administration, Bachelor in Business
them. Administration, Master in Human Resource Development and
several local and international certificates. Instructively, she
While working as a secretary in the civil service, she rendered regards continuous further educational development both for
horticultural services to her family and friends for free. The herself and her employees as a key factor for success.
services were so good that sooner than later, her reputation
spread like wild fire and people began offering to pay for
them.

She seizes the opportunity in the wake of her financial
challenges she faced with inadequate wages. She recalls that
her career had come to a “dead end” and so she reinvented
herself by diverting into an entirely new career by leveraging
on her extraordinary, innate creativity and ability to innovate.
Thus she established Jandal; the company’s name was coined
out of the combination of the names of her two daughters,
Janette and Dela. Those daughters are now adults and so is
the eponymous company. Jandel is over two decades old
and its maturity reflects in both the quality and the spread of
its services.

A the moment, Jandel is Ghana’s leading company in total
event management, and it provides world-class services for
public sector institutions, corporate enterprises and private
events such as weddings and parties. The company also
has equally hugely successfully subsidiaries engaged in
construction, interior décor, horticulture, landscaping and
purchasing and supply. Currently, it employs nearly 7O people.
Madam Amoro, who is over 6O, is truly extraordinary in her
drive and her intelligence. Born into a middle class family, she
says her parents taught her to excel in everything she did by
doing her very best in every activity she engaged in.

She has been recognized both in Ghana and abroad.
Recently, she was a specially invited participant at the 2018
edition of the prestigious London Summit of Leaders, a grand
gathering of regional leaders, investors, academia and like-
minded professionals from all around the world.

At the international awards ceremony which formed a part of
the summit, the Socrates Nomination Committee, in conjunction
with the Academic Union, Oxford, presented Madam Amoro
with the title: ‘Honorary Professor of the Academic Union,’
Oxford, for her scientific activities, strong market positioning
and international sector ratings, successful implementation of
modern management and staff excellence.

024 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

AMBASSADOR Nancy Sam

marketing Ghana’s tourism abroad

Ambassador Nancy Sam’s is synonymous with the She did her Executive Master in Tourism at the University
promotion and development of tourism, culture of Cape Coast from 2015 to 2017. In 1992, she obtained a
and diplomacy in Africa and in the African Certificate in Tourism from Midwestern University Consortium
Diaspora. for International Activity. She bagged another Certificate in
Tourism Development & Marketing Training (USAID) in 2004.
The synonymy is apt as Ambassador Nancy has partnered Ambassador Nancy has a Skill Training Certificate in Applied
with a lot of countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Suicide Intervention from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, the
Sierra Leone, Ethiopia Kenya and Suriname to promote United States (US) in 2003 and a Certificate in Alcohol & Drug
outbound tourism from Ghana to other countries and Abuse Training in Marriage Enrichment Domestic Violence
from other countries to Ghana. It is, therefore, unsurprising Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, US, (2003). From 2001 to 2002,
that she has been appointed as an Honorary Tourism she attended the Ghana Institute of Management and
Ambassador for Zimbabwe in Ghana and the rest of West Public Administration and obtained a Certificate in Women
Africa by Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
and Management.
In addition, she has been honoured as the Suriname
Tourism and Trade Ambassador for Ghana and West Africa,
particularly heading the Suriname Information Center office
at Accra’s international airport. She spearheaded the visit
of the Ethiopian Airline Dreamliner in Ghana in 2018. She is
the Coordinator for the Diplomatic Corps in Ghana from the
office of the dean.

As the president of Women in Tourism, she drives a lot of
women in high places to join her to empower women through
achieving excellence in business and entrepreneurship. For
four years, Ambassador Nancy has been the president of
the Tour operators of Ghana till 2017. She has also been the
Financial Director for the Ghana Tourism Federation from
2013 to 2015 and from 2016 to 2018.

She has done various works in tour operations and
travel promotion which include the coordination and
management of the guided building tour teams, the
management of commercial department responsible for
the exploitation of Ghana and Zimbabwe facilities, either
for private or corporate, among so many which are too
numerous to mention.

Ambassador Nancy is the Chief Executive Officer of Staple
Travel and Tours, Ghana. Based in Odorkor, Accra, Staple
and Tours is engaged in running shops and selling leisure
goods. It is also a travel agent and tour operator which offers
business services and travel, tourism and holiday services.
She was the Director of Sales and Marketing of Kempinski
Gold Coast Hotel.

In recognition of her accomplishments, she has been
honoured with many awards between 2016 and 2019.
These include African Travel Women Awards in 2017; Top
100 Tourism Personalities in West Africa 2018 at the recent
Africa Travel Market Conference in Nigeria; Tourism Hall of
Fame Lifetime Achievement, 2016; Excellence Award from
the Dean of Diplomatic Corps in Ghana, 2018; and Ghana
Industry CEO Awards 2018. At the 5th Feminine Ghana
Achievement Awards, The Business Executive awarded
Ambassador Sam with the Most Outstanding Ambassador
in Tourism award.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 025

PROFILE

Mrs. ELAINE KWAMI

Elaine Sam (aka Mrs. Elaine Kwami) is a private management She is President of the Institute of Public Relations
consultant and a multi-skilled professional with rich experience Ghana; member of the Council of Patrons, CSR
in Journalism, Public and Community Relations and Human Foundation, Ghana; Ghana Institute of Management;
Resource practicen which span over 30 years. Ghana Journalists’ Association; and Society of Human
Resource Practitioners, US as well as board member,
She began her career as a reporter and Women’s page editor MG Radio and Pensions Alliance Trust.
of Ghanaian Times, a daily newspaper, and later worked in
senior positions as Public Relations (PR) and Human Resource Elaine holds diplomas from the Ghana Institute of
Manager with UAC (now Unilever); and General Manager Journalism and School of Journalism in Hungary, and
(Human Resources) with Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC). a Master degree in Human Resource Management
from the University of Cape Coast.
While working with AGC, her serious concern for a strong
internal PR led to the creation of the Community Relations desk She loves reading, music, dancing, debate and
to strengthen communications with the several communities mentoring young women as hobbies.
dotted on the company’s concession. Following AGC’s
merger with AngloGold, Elaine was appointed Community
Services Coordinator for the West Africa Region. In 2006, she
was employed by Golden Star Resources to set up their PR
Department.

She was a member of the team that was contracted by the
Public Sector Reform to gather data for the implementation of
the Single Spine Salary Structure. Elaine is very passionate about
communities and women empowerment, and would like to see
a lot more done to enhance life in the districts in order to stem
urban migration.

In recognition of her outstanding role in the mining industry,
Elaine was among selected women from various professional
backgrounds who received the 2015 Women of Excellence
Award, which is organized by the Top Brass Company, Ghana.

Dr. Theresa Oppong-Beeko

Dr. Theresa Oppong-Beeko established Manet Housing Limited in 1994 and has
so far built nearly 2000 houses, making Manet the second largest real estate
development company in Ghana. Through Manet Housing, Theresa has created
an avenue to pursue her vision of providing young, upwardly-mobile workers with
descent homes in nice, clean neighborhoods.

Dr. Oppong-Beeko is an outstanding personality who has actively supported the
awareness campaigns of the Ghana Heart Foundation, DWIB Leukemia Foundation
and University of Ghana; and massively sponsored the National Tourism programs.
She is a member of the West Africa Nobles Forum, a group of eminent West Africans
who uphold the virtues of honesty, integrity and accountability. In recognition of her
outstanding contributions to her profession and society, many awards and citations
have been conferred on her.

These include the Marketing Woman of The Year by the Chartered Institute of
Marketing Ghana in 1999; voted Ghana Woman of The Year by Glitz Africa and was
selected the Most Respected CEO of Ghana’s Real Estate Industry by The Business
Executive. She holds a BA (Hon.) in Sociology and Political Science, MBA, both from
the University of Ghana, Legon. In 2002, in recognition of her contribution towards
the development of the nation and her alma mater, she was awarded an honorary
doctorate (Doctor of Law) degree by the university.

026 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Mrs. Maud Lindsay- Gamrat:

Founder & CEO of Atlantic Catering and Logistics

Mrs. Maud Lindsay-Gamrat knows about the ins She is on a mission to change the dynamics of catering
and outs of food preparation and packaging in Ghana by using creative ways at every opportunity to
in Ghana. When it comes to catering, and educate and empower caterers, the youth and operators
cuisine, Mrs. Lindsay-Gamrat has expertise and in the hospitality industry at large about food safety and
experience that makes her unique. hygiene in food preparation and service. She also creating
awareness about the importance of ensuring food safety
These stem from her being a certified Food Safety Auditor to protect consumers in Ghana through the workshops and
with over two decades of experience in leadership and internships her company offers.
management. She has a substantial background in Remote
Site, In-flight Catering and Hospitality Management. She Maud holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration,
has global experience in the industry and has successfully and is currently working towards her Master’s. Maud is
managed international catering firms in Ghana for over married to supportive husband, Jeff, and has three children.
two decades.

Maud founded Atlantic Catering and Logistics Limited
in 2014, and currently holds the position of CEO. Atlantic
Catering and Logistics Limited is an ISO certified catering,
beverage and logistics company with a mission to provide
quality, healthy, nutritious, and hygienically-prepared
meals and beverages to its customers. To ensure maximum
customer satisfaction, the company relies on the highest
industry standards in all aspects of its operations – in line
with the company’s Integrated Management Systems
Program.

Atlantic provides contract catering, event management
and planning services, as well as house-keeping, cleaning
and janitorial services. Atlantic exemplifies its commitment
to food safety and customer well-being through its
procurement processes and delivery services. The company
uses high quality, eco-friendly chemicals and products in its
house-keeping services. In offering its facility management
and design services, the company offers total solutions to
its clients to give them peace of mind to manage or ran
their core business. “In doing so, we provide a complete
package to cater for the entire needs of the client in their
facilities,” as stated on the company website.

The primary goal of Atlantic Catering and Logistics Limited
is to promote service excellence in the catering and
hospitality industry in Ghana, while ensuring compliance
to HACCP and the International Certification Standards.
Atlantic Catering and Logistics Limited’s customer portfolios
are in the sectors of oil and gas, mining and corporate
entities which operate in related sectors.

As Founder and CEO, Maud has cultivated a vision for
Atlantic Catering and Logistics Limited to become a
leading brand in the catering and hospitality industry in
Ghana and beyond – as a company known for its quality
products, reliability, innovative capabilities and uniqueness
in product and service excellence. But Maud’s vision for
the food and beverage industry, does not begin and end
with Atlantic.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 027

PROFILE

MRS. Israella Kafui Mansu:

Providing quality natural beauty products

Israella Kafui Mansu is the Founder and CEO of Mansuki Mansuki Ghana Limited
Ghana Limited, a multiple award-winning natural cosmetics
manufacturing company, with the brand name MGL Mansuki Ghana Limited produces natural and healthy hair
Naturals. and skin care products for all ages and skin types. MGL has 20
different finished products. These include African black soap/
After graduating from the University Of Ghana, she identified Alata Samina, body creams/butters, skin tone, hair food/
poor market where rural women to sell their good quality pomade, hair shampoos, hair conditioners and multipurpose
natural cosmetic ingredients and unhealthy beauty care oils. MGL renders services such as contract manufacturing,
products in the Ghanaian cosmetic market as business white and private label branding for individuals and
problems. So in September 2009, at age 23, she found solutions companies with similar business for export and domestic sales.
to the challenges she had identified by establishing a business
at her home to employ herself and others. Established in September 2009 at Lashibi, Community 17,
Tema, Mansuki was derived from Israella’s last name and
That is how Isrealla founded Mansuki Ghana Limited, the initials. It was later registered in September 2010. MGL sources
producer of the natural cosmetics brand, MGL Naturals. She about 90% of raw materials from women in rural Ghana and
commercializes and markets these products on the global sells its products in the country and around the world. These
market to achieve the company’s prime objectives and products received PRESIDENTIAL endorsement in 2014. MGL
contribute to Ghana’s overall socio-economic growth. She deliberately adopted a policy of training and employing
performs a multitude of roles in innovation, making strategic less privileged youth; and by being self-financing through
decisions and taking risks. She then built a great team and reinvesting profits.
created efficient products, thereby providing customers with
high quality natural cosmetics for safe beauty health. MGL has created income-generating activities for many in
the production, marketing, sales and raw material sourcing
As a leader and manager, she researches, designs, develops, sectors. Currently, it has 15 permanent employees, 31 casual
produces and commercializes quality handcrafted and workers, 15 regional sales agents, four top distributors, 100,000
natural hair and body care products for local and international of local and international end users.
sales. She educates, trains, employs and empowers women to
produce Shea butter, African black soap, cocoa butter and As society is ‘going green’ in life’s necessities, the demand
coconut oil with fair trading. Ninety per cent of the company’s for natural beauty products is on the increase due to their
raw materials are sourced from marginalized women from healthy and safe nature. MGL naturals is gradually becoming
rural communities in Ghana. a household brand in Ghana, West Africa and performing
significantly on the global market.
She received multiple Ghanaian and international business
awards. She was celebrated as an ‘Apostle of the New With its slogan, ‘Most Gorgeous Look from Nature,’ MGL is
Economy’ (Springboard) by Legacy and Legacy. In 2014, ready to soar. Website: www.mglnaturals.com Social MEDIA:
she was also honored by TV3 Business Focus as the ‘Mover Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
of the Week’. In June 2014, she was celebrated as a Unique
Achiever on Joy FM, an Accra-based radio station. She co-
chaired the Youth Enterprise Support (YES) initiative with the
President of Ghana at its launch. She is a 2015 IVLP African
Women Entrepreneurship Program Alumni (US Department of
State).

In 2013, Israella was awarded the 2nd Runner Up of ABL UT
Bank Business LaunchPad competition; became the 1st
Runner Up of Ghana StartUp Cup competition; awarded the
WEISED Africa Innovation honorary award by Global Women
Inventors and Innovators Network (GWIIN) in Cape Town,
South Africa; and received a Special Recognition Award for
her inspiring business achievements by the European Women
Inventors & Innovators Network in Stockholm, Sweden.

Entrepreneurs Foundation Ghana awarded the Best Cosmetics
Product of the Year 2015 to MGL Naturals Coconut Oil &
Shea Butter Natural Hair Food. In 2016, The Business Executive
awarded Israella the Most Outstanding Indigenous Female
Personality and Most Outstanding Business Developer. Also,
Minox 2016 Latvia gave her an award for Innovation in Riga,
Latvia. In 2018, she won the Social Enterprise of the Year by 40
Under 40 Awards and ENGINE Program Top Business Award.
She is an old student of Anfoega Senior High School, Volta
Region, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Consumer Science
and Psychology from the University of Ghana.

028 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Mrs. Esther

Gyebi-Donkor

innovating port management

Mrs Esther Gyebi-Donkor is an charge of Marketing

assertive, innovative and and Corporate Affairs

hardworking professional in June 2017.

with good interpersonal skills, In her current position,

leadership capabilities and public speaking she provides co-

skills. ordination and

supervision of the

She started working with the Ghana Ports marketing and public
and Harbours Authority (GPHA) from 1994, as
a Marketing Research Officer and later as a relations activities of
Senior Marketing Officer. She played various
management roles in the Marketing and the Authority at the Port of Tema and Port of Mrs. Esther Gyebi-Donkor’s leadership is
Corporate Affairs Department, as a Deputy not only limited to GPHA. She has taken
Marketing and Customer Service Manager Takoradi. She is also responsible for crafting, leadership roles in the different areas of the
and then a Public Affairs Manager. Maritime and Port Industry. She has been
planning, developing, implementing and a Board member of the Ghana Maritime
Authority from 2015 to 2019 April.
measuring the success of all the GPHA’s
She has been a President of the Network for
marketing, communication and public professional Women in the Maritime and Port
Sectors of West and Central Africa from 2013
relations strategies that conveys the to 2017 after being the Vice President of the
same Network from 2010 to 2012.
Authority’s brand story and position in the
Again, Mrs. Gyebi-Donkor was one of the
In October 2010, the management of GPHA market and the public. As the Executive founding Members of WISTA Ghana where
took note of Mrs. Esther Gyebi-Donkor’s she held the position of the Public Relations
laurels in her job and was assigned a role in Producer, she is responsible for editorial Officer from June 2009 to Feb 2017. She was
an operational department of the Port as the President of Port Ladies Association,
a Deputy Manager of the Golden Jubilee direction, design, production and distribution Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority for 7
Terminal. She was later promoted to the Port years and currently a trustee. It was during
Monitoring Manager position and then as of all the Authority’s publications, including her leadership that most Port ladies were
Terminal One Manager. encouraged to further their education so
the television program “Eye On Port.” that they can rise to main challenging roles
instead of all of them being secretaries and
She became the first Female Terminal She provides strategic direction for capturing, huge successes were chalked in this area.
Manager in the history of the Ports of Ghana developing and sustaining transit trade.
and it was during this period that Port of Hence she plans, develops and implements Esther Gyebi-Donkor has participated in a
Tema was adjudged the best managed Port marketing and public relations strategies wide range of seminars and conferences
in West and Central Africa at the maiden to engage customers from the Sahelian where she made presentations during some,
edition of the African Ports Award ceremony. countries in order to promote transit trade the most recent being the Town Hall Meeting
Among the criteria used for the selection through the two ports. organized by the Ministry of Information in
were Ship turnaround time or how cargoes London in April 2019.
were discharged from ships or loaded at Since she was put in charge of the transit
ports, how fast and efficient containers were trade, the traffic exceeded the 1million Esther Gyebi-Donkor is a Chartered Member
handled at the port and measures taken to TEUs target for the first time in 2017 after the of the Chartered Institute of Logistics &
ensure safety of ships, personnel and cargo. drastic reduction in 2009. Mrs. Gyebi-Donkor Transport, UK. & Ghana, a Chartered
This feat chalked by the Authority was as a provided strong leadership in building and Member of the Chartered Institute of
result of hard work by Mrs. Gyebi-Donkor and overseeing key strategic relationships for Marketing, UK, and Ghana. She is also an
her team. business success and growth. Accredited Member of the Institute of Public
Relations, Ghana.
Her efficiency to plan, receive, store and One of the most critical and visible
deliver cargo quickly, safely and cost- achievements of her career was when she Esther Gyebi-Donkor, is an alumnus of the
effectively to cargo owners which was her was appointed a member of the National World Maritime University, Malmo Sweden
key role as Terminal Manager, earned her an Committee for Port Paperless Implementation where she attained MSc. in Maritime Affairs,
advanced role at the time to integrate and and the leader of the GPHA Team to Port Management. She has a Bachelor of Arts
coordinate the various activities of the three implement the Vice President’s directive on Degree in Economics as well as a diploma in
Terminals namely Golden Jubilee Terminal, Port paperless regime and within a space Education from the University of Cape Coast
GPHA Reefer Terminal and GPHA Transit of two months, this was achieved. This feat and had her Secondary School Education at
Terminal from January 2015 to May 2017. earned her a popular title as “Madam Tema Secondary School.
Paperless” as she was seen in the main driving
seat for the project. No one encounters Esther Gyebi-Donkor
without having positive memories of how
Under her leadership, the Golden Jubilee Based on the successes of the Paperless friendly, motherly, skillful and professional she
Terminal exceeded containers delivered implementation, the Port Authority received is. She is a married woman.
target of 74,216 TEUs by 30% and she also two awards; it was adjudged the Best Port
exceeded Reefer Container delivery in Management Information System among
target of 11, 130 TEUs by 124%. The Transit the member Ports of Port Management
Terminal saw about 50% growth. She had Association of West and Central Africa in 2018
a commendation from the then Director and the Government Agency of the year
General of GPHA. 2018 at the 2018 Ghana Shippers Awards.

Her success with elevating the revenue of Currently she is a member of the National
GPHA due to the increase of cargo handled Committee for the Implementation of the First
through the terminals she oversaw, inspired Port Duty Rule in Ghana, another major Port
her promotion to be General Manager in Reform led by the Vice President of Ghana.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 029

PROFILE

Mrs. Yvette Adounvo Atekpe:

World-class service provider

Yvette Adounvo Atekpe has been managing customer
focused organizations in the Telecommunications
and IT sector for over 20 years, and has been
proactively involved in establishing world-class
customer service teams and processes for successful start-up
ICT organizations in Africa.

Yvette handled the sales and marketing portfolio for Interlink
Communications, a Regional distributor for Rank Xerox and
British Telecom in Ghana and Francophone West Africa from
1989-1991.
She then established the customer service department for
the joint venture between AT&T and KIL Ghana Ltd (Celltel),
a telecommunications start-up in 1995.

Yvette Adounvo Atekpe’s passion for outstanding service Yvette was awarded the ICT woman of the Year 2014 and
delivery was evident during her tenure with Celltel Industry Personality of the Year 2016 at the Ghana Telecom
Communications Ghana Ltd. a subsidiary of Hutchison Awards Gala. She was further ranked among WomanRising
Telecom, Hong Kong, as Commercial Manager for Ghana. Top 50 Corporate Women leaders in Ghana. In 2018, Yvette
She designed effective services marketing strategies, was awarded the Marketing Woman of the Year 2017 by
formulated and implemented policies and procedures the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG). She
which propelled the organization in becoming an industry was recognized as Regional and Country winner 2018 by
standard for customer service delivery in Ghana. CEO Global Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business
Yvette, representing Celltel Communications was and Government Pan African Awards in recognition of her
subsequently made a member of the National achievement in the ICT business sector.
Communications Policy Planning Committee, which sought
to draft and implement an effective Communications Policy Yvette Adounvo Atekpe brings to bear extensive experience
for Ghana in 1999. in churn management, customer relationship management;
project management; excellent people skills and enhanced
Yvette was later engaged for a period of 5 years from 2000 - service delivery efficiencies to guarantee customer
2005 as Customer Service and Support Manager with Africa satisfaction and business profitability.
Online, where she assisted in restructuring the organization
and setting up a formidable customer service team. Yvette studied Law and Philosophy at the University of Ghana,
with a major in Sociology (B.A. Hons); a PGD in Marketing of
Yvette Adounvo Atekpe then joined Accelon Ghana in Services from the Maastricht School of Management in the
2005 as Head of Service Management and Support; and Netherlands and earned a CBA from the Ghana Institute of
took up the challenge in 2007 as Regional Managing Management and Public Administration. She has undertaken
Director for Accelon Ghana Limited, headquartered in various Finance, Human Resources and ICT Management
South Africa; and successfully steered the organization via courses and e-learning at Banking College, MDPI and DDU.
its acquisition through Dimension Data Middle East and She is a product and past school prefect of the Holy Child
Africa. Accelon thus evolved under her able leadership School in Cape-Coast.
to become IS Internet Solutions Ghana Limited (A division
of Dimension Data), thereby turning the company around Yvette is passionate about advancing the status of women
from a loss making entity to profitability and emerging the and children in society and served as President of the Zonta
fastest growing subsidiary within the Internet Solutions global Club of Accra II, and as the Board Chair for Zonta District 18
business portfolio in 2015. Young Women in Public Affairs. She was co-opted a member
of the Ghana Ministry of Communications Committee on
As its Chairman and Regional Managing Director, Yvette promoting Girls in ICT. She is a member of the Executive
is currently charged with business development of Internet Women Network.
Solutions in Ghana and expansion into the African Sub-
region, a position she has held from 2008 to date. Yvette is fluent in English, French, Ga, and Twi. She is a stickler
Yvette Adounvo Atekpe currently Chairs the board of for discipline and work ethics, and has great sense of humour.
Internet Solutions Ghana, and serves as Director on the She is a practicing Catholic and married with 2 children.
board of Internet Solutions Mozambique. She is also a board
member of the Ghana Police Hospital and the Coastal
Development Authority of Ghana. She previously served on
the board of Quality Insurance Company and the Ghana
Internet Service Providers Association (GISPA) as its Director
for Communication.

030 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Miss Nafisa Ewurama Quainoo-

Adept reputation builder

Born in Accra, Ghana – Miss Nafisa Ewurama
Quainoo has worked over the last 19 years building
and protecting the business reputation of amazing
multinational brands, to many stakeholders including
regulators, advertising and clearance authorities, medical,
engineering and veterinary professionals, governments
and non-governmental organizations.

She has worked on flagship brands such as Ariel, Pampers,
Oral – B, Always, Safeguard, Scanfrost, Colgate, Dettol,
Mortein, Easy On, Luna Popular Milk, Mcvities, Cadbury,
SMA, Horlicks, Lucozade, Mentos, Quaker Oats, MAC
Cosmetics etc. just to mention a few. Nafisa is currently the
Manager of External Relations and Inbound Logistics at one
of the largest multinational distribution organizations in the
world - FAREAST MERCANTILE CO. LIMITED.

She is the founder of THE AFRICA UBORA FOUNDATION.
Ubora, which means excellence is synonymous to her
name Nafisa.

She grew up with parents who believe in giving back
to society and at the early stages of her career, she
remember’ s her mother telling women and girls with issues
in the neighborhood, that her daughter would come help
them out. Her caring yet strict mother followed through
and ensured Nafisa fulfilled her duties to society. Sometimes
a part of my income went out to those in need – and this
was non-negotiable with Mummy – Nafisa recounts.

To ensure she could do more for society, Nafisa took up
a Master’s degree in Social Policy from the University of
Ghana, Legon. For her thesis in partial fulfilment of the
award of the MA in Social Policy, Nafisa chose the title
‘Examination of Maternal Health Issues amongst Women
in Tema’ (December 2010). and out of the knowledge
acquired, the Africa Ubora Foundation was birthed.”

She has led various social intervention campaigns including
Free Malaria Screening exercises and Access to diapers and
soaps by mothers in prisons and deprived communities. She
also works with Nurses and key stakeholders to lead talks
on adolescent health & social issues amongst young girls
in communities.

Her love for the aged, stems more from a passion to ensure
their well-being and she meets with them from time to time,
to address their socio-economic and health issues.

Miss Nafisa Ewurama Quainoo is an award winning social
advocate. In 2019, she was awarded Excellence in
Social Causes and Advocacy at the 5th Feminine Ghana
Achievement Awards organized by The Business Executive
in Accra.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 031

PROFILE

Miss. Dzifa Abodakpi:

results-driven, multi-sector business leader

Dzifa is a self-motivated, results-driven and seasoned
business leader with many years of cognate
experience in business leadership spanning industry
verticals such financial, services, SMEs and Telcoms
across the West African sub-region.

Prior to her current role as the Territory Sales Lead of IBM
Ghana, Dzifa was the first Ghanaian Country Head of Inlaks
Ghana and the youngest to attain the role in the history of the
company. She contributed to the remarkable revenue growth
through client acquisition in universal banking, microfinance,
infrastructure and enterprise solutions.

She played a core role in the computerization and integration
of rural community banks (RCBs) in Ghana under the MiDA
project which was sponsored through the Millennium Compact
Agreement (MCA) of the US Government. This project made a
significant impact on poverty alleviation in our rural farming
communities.

Dzifa is widely travelled, with international and intercultural
experience. She has major skills, among others, in leadership,
people management, business development, corporate
communications, negotiation, large account management,
global alliances and strategic selling.

. In August 2017, she was adjudged the Most Outstanding
Female IT Country Executive of year at the 3rd Feminine
Ghana Achievements Awards in Accra.

A citation presented to her read, in part: “Having overseen
the sales and strategy functions at Global Solutions Ghana,
now Inlaks Limited, your skills in negotiation, presentations
and complex sales management with regard to computer
hardware and software have proved second to none. These
skills, indeed, have been crucial to the success the company
has had in expanding sales and market share to an increasingly
astute and affluent clientele base. Indeed your sales and
marketing strategies have proved invaluable in these regards
and are a testimony to your exemplary professionalism.”

Speaking after the wards, Ms. Abodakpi noted that despite For Dzifa who studied Biochemistry in at the university and
her excitement for winning an award of that nature for the first practiced the discipline in a few places, she realized early
time, she was challenged to do more, adding that what has enough that “it wasn’t my thing because I like to be out there,
brought her thus far is humility, diligence and determination meet people, talk to them and get along. So being a back
to learn. office person just didn’t excite me enough.”

“My advice is to learn as much as you can from anyone. One She has BSc (Hon.) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of
of the things that really helped me was my apprenticeship. I Science and Technology (KNUST) and a Master of Business
got the opportunity to be mentored by a man, Femi Muraino, Administration (in view) Finance and Risk Management at the
former Country Manager of Inlaks Limited, on this job. He Business School Netherlands (BSN), Holland. She is an old girl of
made it a point to bring out every potential in me just so I could Aburi Girls Senior High School.
maximize them. To all the women out there, you definitely
need a mentor, man or woman. Just be humble and learn and
once you are able to be a good student, eventually you’d
become great,” she said.

032 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Madam Amma Frimpomaa
Dwumah:

Legal luminary and top
manager

Madam Amma Frimpomaa
Dwumah is a qualified
Lawyer with over eight (8)
years standing at the Bar.
She is the Managing Director of SIC Life
Savings and Loans Co. Ltd, a role she
has played since July 2017. Before her
appointment to this high office, she was
the Legal Officer for Bank of Africa from
September 2015 to May 2016.

She started her career as a trained
teacher at GNAT where she trained
teachers in English Language in second
cycle schools. She then had a one year
stint at Ola Girls as an English teacher
between September 2006 to August
20017.

Amma’s career as a Lawyer then
began in 2008 as an intern at Henewaa
Chambers in Sunyani and continued
for about three years until 2011 when
she moved to Dery & Co., a law firm in
Adabraka in 2011.

She then moved to the finance space
as she was later engaged as a solicitor/
secretary for Golden Pride Savings &
Loans in 2013 for a year and then came
back to Dery & Co. from January 2014
to August 2015. She was appointed

She has a Bachelor of Laws Degree
(LLB) from University of Ghana (2009)
and a qualifying certificate in law
obtained in 2011. She also has a Master
in Human Resource from the University
of Cape Coast. Before taking the
path of the legal profession, she was
enrolled at St. Louis Training College
where she obtained her Cert ‘A’ in 1999
and topped it up with a Bachelor of
Education(B.Ed) in English Language.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 033

PROFILE

Mrs. Marufatu Abiola Bawuah

– Consummate banker soars above the skies

Arespected career woman, Mrs. Marufatu Abiola In 2018, she won the Exemplary Leadership in the Banking
Bawuah has bagged a wealth of experience in Sector by Ghana Accountancy and Finance Awards. At
her specialty of retail banking and marketing. Mrs. the Ghana Entrepreneur & Corporate Executive Awards
Abiola Bawuah is currently the Regional CEO, West held in 2018, she was judged as Banking and Finance CEO
Africa 1 of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and oversees of the Year. She also won the Most Outstanding Female in
the affairs of UBA subsidiaries in Ghana, the Republic of Banking, and the Best Achiever in Banking Sector during the
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone. 4th and 5th Feminine Ghana Achievement Awards in 2018
and 2019 respectively. In May 2019, she was inducted with
Her career path has been astronomical. She has worked an Honorary Fellowship by the Chartered Institute of Credit
with Standard Chartered Bank as Head of Sales; CAL Bank Management (Ghana).
as Relationship Manager; Strategic African Securities as an
authorized dealing broker as well as with the then Bentsi- She holds a BSc. in Actuarial Science from University of
Enchi and Letsa (now Bentsi-Enchil, Letsa and Ankomah) Lagos, Nigeria, an LLB with honors from University of London,
law firm as an Investment Officer. a Diploma in Marketing from GIMPA and an Executive MBA
(Finance) from the University of Ghana. She has numerous
In 2012, she was made the Executive Director at Zenith Bank leadership qualifications from Harvard Business School,
Ghana, having previously held the positions of General University of New York, INSEAD and Institut Villa Pierrefeu in
Manager (Marketing) and Group Head (Retail Banking). She Switzerland.
joined UBA Ghana as Deputy Managing Director in 2013.
She is married with three children and volunteers as a
In less than a year, she was elevated to MD/CEO, marking motivational speaker for various churches, religious bodies,
two firsts: being the first indigenous CEO of a Pan African NGOs and women’s groups.
Bank and the first female CEO to take the helm. During her
tenure, the profits of UBA increased by incredible margins. UBA dominates with 70 years excellent
Deposits within the four years she has been at the helm of services
affairs rose from GHC350 million to GHC1 billion. In 2016,
deposit figures at the bank grew above GHC3 billion. She UBA was incorporated on 23rd February, 1961 after it took
has held this position till her appointment to the current post over the business of the British and French Bank Limited
as Regional CEO (West Africa 1). (BFB) which was established during the British colonial era
in Nigeria. UBA has been intensifying its African footprint
Mrs. Abiola Bawuah’s phenomenal success has not gone with the establishment of about 20 subsidiaries. UBA offers
unrecognized. She has been showered with many awards. In excellent banking services and financial solutions to its
2015, as the MD/CEO of UBA, she was adjudged the overall numerous customers while maintaining high standards of
Banking and Finance Female Personality of the Year 2014 professionalism. Winning multiple awards over the years,
at an awards ceremony organized by the National Women UBA continues to distinguish itself in the financial service
in Finance Magazine held at the International Conference industry across Africa and is at the forefront of innovation.
Centre in Accra. The awards ceremony also saw her being
awarded female banker of the year; while UBA’s innovative
female tailor-made product for discerning women, RUBY,
was adjudged the product of the year.

In 2015 and 2016, Woman Rising, Ghana’s leading network
of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders, adjudged
Mrs. Abiola Bawuah among its comprehensive list of top 50
Female Corporate Leaders in Ghana. The list featured 50
leading corporate women who operate in various business
sectors aimed at recognizing the outstanding achievements
of women in the development of the Ghanaian economy
and inspiring the next generation of globally-minded
women business leaders.

At the 2016 Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIMG) Ghana
Awards, she was crowned the CIMG Marketing Woman
of the Year. Barely two months later, she went on to win
the Finance Personality of the Year Award at the Ghana
Accountancy and Finance Awards. She was conferred with
‘Woman of Excellence in Finance’ at the 2016 CFO Awards
Ceremony. At the same awards, her gifted guidance led
UBA to pick the Best Bank award in Risk Management. She
also won the Female Expatriate CEO for 2017 at the Ghana
Expatriate Awards.

034 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Felicia Twumasi

Midas touch on agro-products

Felicia is an exceptional individual who can be easily Felicia is a Director on the Board of EMPRETEC, member of
described as the epitome of entrepreneurship. She is a Export Promotion Council, West African Trade Hub, board
perfectionist who sets very high standards in her business member of Women Thrive - An Advocacy Group, Washington
relationships which usually develop into partnerships. DC, USA, member of Global Trade leaders Club and Road
Her high standards have been translated into her organization Safety Ambassador 2018.
grabbing several local and international awards. She is a
visionary and an architect when it comes to strategies. She and her company have won many awards such as
the International WHO’S WHO of Professionals in 2009; the
Felicia Twumasi is the founder and Chief Executive Officer Otherways Top Quality Customer Satisfaction Aptitude Seal
of Homefoods Processing and Cannery Limited (HFPCL) and for High Quality Performance & Best Customer Satisfaction,
the Managing Director of Homesense Limited. After ending a Switzerland, 2007; National Export Achievement Award
year teaching career, Felicia set up what is now Homefoods (Golden Award Winner), 2008; UNTACD Nominee for
Processing Cannery Limited. HFPCL was incorporated on 3rd Entrepreneur Woman of the Year, 2009; and Golden Award
August, 1995 with a stated capital of USD500. She has built and for Business Prestige, Geneva, 2009. The others are Millennium
sustained the company for 23 years in a highly competitive Agribusiness Award London, 2014; African Best Premium Food
local market and abroad into a multi-million dollar business Company,2016; The West Africa Region Magazine (TWARM)
over the years. Award; Business Leadership,2016; TWARM Award, Business
Innovation in the Food sector, 2016; TWARM Award, Best
In 2009, when Europe and America plunged into recession, Indigenous food in West Africa,2016; Ghana Entrepreneur
Felicia led her company to add new products to the product & Corporate Executive Awards, Agro Industry Entrepreneur
lines which propelled the business from small scale concern to of the Year 2016; Agro Exporter of the year Ghana National
a medium scale status. Chamber of Commerce Industry 2016; International Food
and Beverage Award, Spain 2017; The Business Executive’s
HFPCL’s core business is linked to improving nutrition, health, Most Outstanding Female Entrepreneur, 2018; CELD’s Africa
agriculture and productivity. The company’s supply chain Impact Leadership Award, 2018- Agricultural Development
starts from the farm gate with over 5,000 cooperative Category; and Amazons Watch Magazine Blue Ribbon List of
members as women and over 70 employees nationwide, Top 50 Women in Business and Governance, New York 2018.
creating a global distribution channel. Felicia has the ability to
separate personal and business challenges and juggle social, She is a graduate of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science
business and family demands with deftness. This explains how and Technology; Harvard Business School, Boston, USA and
a single parent has been able to have time for her family and member of Stanford Institute of Innovation in Developing
friends while maintaining an atmosphere of excellence and Economies.
order in the office. As a seasoned traveler, the advent of the
technology age has bridged distance and helped balance
business and family life wherever she is.

Felicia made achievements through her unique ability to rely
on a trusted team. Thus allowing the team to devise solutions to
improve their competencies. Having gone through an array of
business challenges, she has acquired flair and immeasurable
capacity to configure and coordinate multimarket activities
based on competitive advantage and experience from
existing products. Felicia believes that “success is failure turned
inside out! Failures as disruptors always have opportunities if
you have the entrepreneurial spirit.”

Felicia Twumasi, and indeed Homefoods, are well on their way
to leaving a lasting legacy in food processing and production.
Imbibed with a desire to supply West Africans abroad with
the flavour of the region; Felicia embodies everything that
we typically associate with femininity. Beginning from the
humble surroundings of her kitchen table, she has nurtured
Homefoods and watched as it has grown over 23 years into
the multi-million dollar company it is today.

She coaches leadership skills by empowering local female
farmers and by teaching them the business-savvy methods
that have led to her many successes. HFPCL is associated with
many industry bodies, including Chamber of Commerce of
Ghana, EMPRETEC Ghana Program, Association of Ghana
Industries and Ghana Chamber of Commerce.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 035

PROFILE

Mrs. Diana Heymann-Adu:

A seasoned media educator & women’s advocate with many constituents

When you are looking for a woman who has Her greatest wish is to see Women’s Empowerment Centers
steadily risen to be a beacon of inspiration to built all over Ghana to train and equip women with skills and
many, then Mrs. Diana Heymann-Adu is one guide them to manage their finances better.
such. Mrs. Heymann-Adu has moved up the
ladder of success to become the Acting Dean of the Faculty She is a beneficiary of the United States (US) State
of Journalism at Ghana Institute of Journalism, where she Department’s International Visitors Program in 2003. She was
began her career as a national service person in 1987. conferred honorary citizen status by Nebraska State, US. She
In addition to teaching, she has organized numerous was a rapporteur of United Nations Educational, Scientific
professional workshops in media and development issues and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) International Program
in her capacity as the President of Gender Awareness for the Development of Communication at one of its sessions
Foundation. Her area of specialization is international held at its headquarters in Paris, France. She served on
journalism. UNESCO’s Bureau until 2016. She twice attended the Radio
Netherland training fellowship program.
As a media educationist, practitioner and entrepreneur,
the propensity for her to go the extra mile makes her an She has a number of publications to her credit: ‘The Role of
ideal model of professionalism and excellence to many Media (Print) in the Attainment of Independence in March
youths, especially women. She promotes free expression 1957 with Reference to the Youth Movement’ (1987); ‘Higher
and media pluralism. She is preoccupied with capacity- Education in the Era of Globalization’ (2013), among others.
building in innovation for journalists and media managers Mrs. Heymann-Adu says the most inspirational figure in her
to integrate the traditional news media with new trends in life was her mother, Mrs. Aureola Sawyerr Heymann, who she
communication in Ghana. lost in 2017. She was born in Accra to late Eric Heymann, a
veteran journalist.
Due to her enthusiasm and remarkable leadership style, she
became the first female CEO of a radio station in Ghana. She attended Aburi Girls’ Secondary School, and went to Sixth
As entrepreneurial as she is, she established Meridian FM Form at Apam Secondary School to earn her GCE A’ Level
at Tema, which she runs very prudently. As a senior female certificate. In 1981, she was admitted into Tashkent State
business executive, she is a strong advocate of women’s University to read Journalism, obtaining a Master’s degree in
rights and economic empowerment. Thus she has been 1987. She holds a Certificate in Population Communication
recognized with awards for championing greater gender from the Kenya Institute of Communication.
balance in Ghana and internationally.
She reveals that she loves cooking, and is a very good cook,
By dent of hard work and her love for students, she has especially in local cuisine. Her favorite food is Ga ‘kenkey’
been recognized by the media fraternity nationally and with fried fish and ground pepper and tomatoes. She
internationally. She won the recognition of many student fellowships at the Presbyterian Church of Hope at Sakumono,
leaders who have celebrated and appreciated her with a suburb of Accra.
heaps of citations. In acknowledgement of her work as
a seasoned media practice consultant, Mrs. Heymann-
Adu was awarded the Most Outstanding Female Media
Practitioner organized by The Business Executive in 2015.
The following year, she won the Achievement in Electronic
Media Award at the Feminine Ghana Achievement Awards.
Her passion for promoting women’s right made her travel to
the four corners of the country to take part in community
development activities through script writing, production of
documentaries and other journalistic work. Her experiences
with women in the 1980s while she sojourned in Europe inspired
her to found an all-female media practitioners’ organization
known as Gender Awareness Foundation, now known as
National Women’s Forum. Its aim is to organize Ghanaian
women to be equally empowered like their counterparts in
the advanced countries. In the 1990s, she trained women in
media in Cameroon and Malawi to acquire knowledge and
skills. She also organized international exchanges between
African women journalists.

These experiences influenced Mrs. Heymann-Adu to
organize women in Tema New Town to improve their lives
and livelihoods. There, she works with women groups from all
walks of life and has endeared herself to the community. She
is involved in several community initiatives on development
and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

036 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Shamima Muslim

– Famous media diva

Shamima Muslim is a development communications She is a beneficiary of several awards, leadership and facilitation
specialist and trained facilitator with special strengths training programs under the auspices of organizations like
in process input, advocacy, negotiations, gender, the Fredriech Ebert Foundation; Insititute of Economic Affairs,
leadership, presentation, media and communications Ghana; US Embassy, Ghana. She has worked on projects
skills. funded by the Commonwealth Foundation, USAID, DFID, Office
of African First Ladies (OAFLA), among others.
Shamima is a well-known young advocate of women’s and
youth and human rights in Ghana and outside the country. The awards and recognition Shamima has received are galore:
Since 2017, she has been working as the Founder and Most Influential Female Broadcaster at the 2015 Feminine
Convener of Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA), Ghana Awards; Radio News Presenter of the Year at the Radio
a non-governmental advocacy and welfare group which is and Television Personalities Awards 2011; CIMG Radio Program
dedicated to improving the visibility and impact of women in of the Year for Citi fm’s ‘Eyewitness News’ program; the 2011
the media. She is responsible for the day-to-day running of the BOABAB award at the Nyankpala Campus of University for
AWMA in Ghana and strives to increase the visibility and Development Studies; and Excellent Leadership Awards for
representation of women particularly in the Ghanaian media, Honorary Award for Journalism and Advocacy 2010.
and generally in Africa.
At present, she is focused on building both AWMA and her new
From 2015 to date, she has acted as an independent consultant integerated Media and communications firm, SUVISSA Consult.
in media, communications and development communication
who has offered services to the European Union-funded
Accountability and Rule of Law Project in Ghana as well as
Newmont Ghana.

From 2008 to 2014, she was a broadcast journalist at Citi fm
where she worked as the host and co-producer of the multi-
awards winning current affairs program, ‘Eye Witness. While at
Citi fm, she hosted ‘Good Morning,’ a show at MetroTV which
also won many awards. One of the points of her media career
was when she co-hosted the Vice-Presidential debate for
Ghana’s 2012 elections.

She was promoted from program officer to director of Research,
Advocacy and Advisory Services at Legal Resources Center
(LRC) from 2003 to 2008. Shamima coordinated the USAID-
funded Parliamentary Advocacy Program, and organized
workshops on legislation before parliament, among other
projects.

From 2007 to 2008, the British Council contracted her consultancy
services for its transformational leadership program, InterAction.
Then between 2003 and 2004, the Council also engaged her
as a Lead trainer of the Islamic Girls Rights and Leadership
Project. Studying at the University of Ghana from 1999 to 2003,
she worked as a volunteer trainee journalist on Legon’s radio
station, Radio Univers.

Training program and meetings that Shamima attended
participated in include United Nation Women’s Commission
on the Status of Women, New York. The United States; African
Union Girls Summit, Accra, Ghana; High Way Africa Conference
Media Conference, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Young African
Women Leaders Forum, Johannesburg, South Africa; maiden
Young African Leaders Initiative Forum, Washington, D.C.;
and British Council Intercultural Dialogue meeting, Mombasa,
Kenya.

Shamima is currently a member and ambassador of the African
Center for International Law and Accountability; Ghana Right
to Information Coalition; and Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition.
The rest are member of the Network of Women’s Rights
groups (NETRIGHT); Women Land Rights Advocacy; UN-Youth
Ghana and Ambassador for SDG 5; and Menstrual Hygiene
Management ambassador, with appearance on BBC radio
and TV.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 037

PROFILE

MRS. Jemima Kotei Walsh

practices customer service with a difference

Mrs. Jemima Kotei Walsh has vast experience Mrs. Kotei Walsh has been adjudged Customer Relations
in the field of customer service relations and Executive of the Year at the Feminine Ghana Achievement
customer experience management which Awards organized by The Business Executive in Accra
spans about 20 years. Mrs. Walsh is currently in 2019. The award is in recognition of her outstanding
the Customer Relations Executive of Scancom Plc (MTN contribution to client relations excellence in Ghana.
Ghana), the Leading Telecommunications service Receiving the award, she expressed her gratitude to
provider and Network in Ghana. the organizers for the recognition and dedicated the
award to all MTN customers and the MTN Ghana team.
Prior to Jemima’s appointment as the Customer Relations Mr. Adadevoh congratulated Mrs. Walsh for achieving
Executive, she was the Senior Manager for Quality such great recognition. He said “Customer Service is one
Assurance and Training at the Customer Care Division of of our distinct differentiators in the market and we are
MTN. In her current role, Jemima works with a team of excited that our Customer Relations Executive has been
over 500 staff and is responsible for planning, developing recognized for her excellence in the field of customer
and executing the customer relations and experience service.”
strategy for MTN Ghana. Currently overseeing 4
departments within Customer Care as follows; Customer Jemima is a product of Wesley Girls’ High School and
Service Operations, Customer Relations and Credit the University of Ghana Business School. She also holds
Management, Customer Experience Planning and a Masters in Human Resource Development and
Enablement and Contact Centre, Online and Digital Consulting from the Management School, Lancaster
Channels. University, United Kingdom.

Jemima has been instrumental in fuelling the growth of
the multinational company over the years through her
enormous contribution and implementation of various
customer experience management tools and techniques
which have positively impacted on the company’s
bottom line. Some of these include her contribution to the
implementation of varied mechanisms to seek customer
feedback and insight, implementing the Customer
Panel and the Voice of the Customer (VOC) programs.
She also institutionalized an innovative incentive scheme
for the staff in the Customer Care Division and set up the
Quality Assurance Function to train and monitor service
quality to ensure standards are met and maintained.

Jemima enjoys working with people and solving problems
and is also passionate about service excellence. One
key achievement she is proud of is working with her large
team of over 500 people to win the best customer service
award in the Telecom industry 2018.

Under her able leadership and guidance, MTN has won
several awards and accolades in customer relations
which include Best Customer Service award at the
Ghana Information Technology and Telecoms Awards
(GITTA) held in Accra for six consecutive times; Customer
Service Team of the Year at the GITTA Awards for four
consecutive times; and Customer Experience Company
of the Year for three consecutive times.

Jemima has proved that excellence in customer service
is her personal and professional hallmark and several
recognitions have been adorned her. She was also
awarded for her outstanding contribution to customer
service in Ghana with the Customer Service Personality
of the year in 2018 at the Marketing World Awards (MWA)
organized by Instinct Wave.

038 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Joyce Boadi-Okyere:

Entrepreneurship is her first nature

Whenever Joyce Boadi Okyere notices gaps, she These days, Joyce has become accustomed to wearing
almost immediately begins to think up business many hats. In addition to running and growing her
ideas. It is a trait that has been second-nature businesses, she is actively involved in public speaking
for a long time. coaching, mentorship and providing start-up advisory
services for budding entrepreneurs. In her view, success
As a student at Ashesi, Joyce realized that most of her involves holding the door open for others to walk through
classmates always bought beverages multiple times a as well. “I realized my journey and experiences could be
day from nearby tuck shops even when they were cash- useful to upcoming entrepreneurs,” she notes. “Through
strapped. She figured it was an opportunity waiting to be serving as an example to others I get to help them along
tapped. She took advantage of the demand and became their own journeys, and this is fulfilling.”
the go-to person for purchasing beverages on campus,
building a thriving business. Joyce loves to network and share ideas, she is currently the
National General Secretary of JCI Ghana, the immediate
Joyce Boadi Okyere is an astute entrepreneur with strong Past President of JCI Dansoman, the immediate Past Division
Christian values. Over the past decade, Joyce leveraged Program Quality Director of Toastmasters Division G ,Ghana
on her interpersonal and impressive selling skills to ensure the Toastmasters and a Startup Advisor on Entrepreneurship.
smooth operation of Dorotheen Enterprise and Posky Plus
as the Managing Director and CEO respectively. The two The African Network of Entrepreneurs (TANOE), through
growing businesses serve as one-stop shops for products its flagship network, WomanRising, included her in its 2017
and services. They offer a wide range of products and WomanRising 100 Most Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs
services: From office stationery supply, home appliances to (100 MOWE) List in 2017. The list, which features Ghanaian
secretarial services. women entrepreneurs, was compiled by TANOE Research
and was aimed at promoting achievements and
Says Joyce: “I realized early on that this is where I thrive; exceptional milestones by women in Ghana and Africa. In
finding gaps, running with business ideas and figuring out 2017, TV3 Network named her as one of the Most Influential
how to fill the gaps.” She states: “This is exactly how I started Women in Ghana. She was later honored among 25 women
my first business coming out of school. For most of us then, at the 2nd edition of the Feminine Ghana Achievement
the expected next step after graduating was between Awards in Accra just to mention a few.
settling down into a marriage or a job. I did not see myself
taking either path; so I spent a lot of time understanding Joyce, above all, believes in people and she is ever ready
which products most of my classmates were spending to guide anyone who will engage her to nurture his or her
money on, and then would become the go-to supplier for
them.”

With a smile, a joke or two, Joyce will effortlessly sell you that
item you don’t know you need yet. With her skill in turning
every challenge into a money-making venture, she has
earned herself both local and International recognition.

Though she has had a knack for business, Joyce credits
her strong foundation to friends, family and to some of
the experiences she had at Ashesi. She picked up a lot
of lessons about understanding customers from serving as
the Ashesi Student Council’s welfare chairperson. In that
position, she learned to listen to people, understand their
needs and figure out how to help address them effectively.
These skills, she shares, are brought to bear in how she runs
her businesses.

“Growing a successful business involves building trust with
customers, and this is where I believe I have thrived,” she
says. “I make sure I always give my customers value for
money. Even when I was dealing with my classmates back
on campus, I avoided cutting corners and always ensured
they were getting their money’s worth. It made all the
difference for their continued preference for buying from
me,” she adds.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 039

PROFILE

Natalie Fort

mesmerizes corporate

Ghana with creativity & flair

Miss Natalie Fort is an eclectic young lady who is She is the second of three children, Addobea her elder sister
creating crescent waves in the media, corporate studies Law at Lancaster University while her younger brother,
and fashion space in Ghana and beyond. Ms. Daniel, is an Art student at the Savannah College of Art and
Forte is a TV personality, corporate ambassador, Design.
former model, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Ms. Fort’s Enterprises and Projects
Ms. Fort’s professional career first took off at age 13, following
her training in modeling with Exopa Modeling Agency. She Natalie’s projects span across the media, fashion, lifestyle and
quickly rose to become one of Ghana’s youngest fashion humanitarian industries and endeavors. They are highlighted
models. During her over seven years in modeling, Natalie below.
graced the runways of many notable designers and brands,
locally and internationally. Some of these include: Vlisco Fort Model Management: Following her successful work in the
Hollandais (Africa, UK, US), Duaba Serwaa (Ghana, UK), Kofi modeling and fashion landscape, Natalie established Fort
Ansah (Africa, UK), Brigitte Merki (Africa, UK, US), Ohema Model Management, the premier modeling and etiquette
Ohene (Ghana, UK), among others. school in Ghana for females of all ages. The company prides
itself in its unique service delivery, offering lifetime modeling
At age 15, Natalie was selected to represent Ghana in the and etiquette training to clients through varied membership
Miss Princess of the World Pageant in Prague, Czech Republic, packages.
where she placed 9th out of 40 competitors from 40 different
countries. Ms. Fort also participated in the Ghana Fashion Fort Jewelry & Co: Fort Jewelry & Co is a luxury retail jewelry
Week 2009, where she modeled for designer Jojo Castilo in company which is dedicated to providing high-end jewelry
honor of the election of the US’s first ever African-American pieces to clients at affordable prices, through strategic
President, Barack Obama, along with American Actor, Boris partnerships with leading residential and commercial
Cudjoe. She has featured in publications such as Adeshie properties. The Fort Jewelry &Co retails jewelry of brands from
magazine (cover feature), Daily Graphic, Junior Graphic, South Africa and Ghana.
Mirror newspapers (front page feature) and others.
Fort Foundation: Ms. Fort is an avid humanitarian, supporting
Ms. Fort is a talented and creative young lady who started out as needy patients across selected hospitals in Accra, Ghana’s
an all-round Broadcast Journalist with no previous experience capital city, through Fort Foundation which was founded in
or training in the field of journalism or news anchoring. Ms. 2015. The Fort Foundation’s primary aim is to bring relief and
Forte’s career first begun in October 2015 with TV3 Network, financial aid to underprivileged persons with health care
Ghana’s leading news and current affairs broadcaster. She needs. Through the Foundation’s emergency fund, Fort Fund,
was soon made an anchor for TV3’s five-minute on-the-hour it provides timely financial aid for the most vulnerable patients
news bulletin, ‘News in Brief.’ Afterwards, she was selected as in hospitals.
the anchor for the 15-minute ‘Business News’ segment on TV3’s
breakfast show, ‘New Day.’ TV3 beats all broadcast networks

In a short while, Natalie was promoted to solely anchor TV3 Network Limited (TV3 Ghana) is a private free-to-air
‘Midday Live’ the weekend news bulletin. In that program, she television broadcaster which started on October 1, 1997. With
conducted interviews on topical issues such as the setting up its tag line, ‘First in News, Best in Entertainment’, TV3 is the most
of a Railway Ministry by the newly-elected NPP administration watched television station in Ghana which produces a variety
led by President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the political of programs, including news, drama, reality and entertainment
tension in Gambia, following the election of Adama Barrow shows.
as President. Less than one year, Ms. Fort was selected to co-
anchor ‘News 360’, TV3’s leading news bulletin, at weekends.

She is currently the co-anchor of ‘News 360’ during weekdays.
Natalie also hosts ‘Business Daily’ on TV3’s sister radio station,
3FM (92.7), every weekday. She serves as an international
news and exclusives reporter in Media General’s News and
Current Affairs Department.

She is a High-Level Supporter of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which is also known as
the UN Refugee Agency; a United Nations program mandated
to protect and support refugees globally.

She is a product of the Ghana International School, Merton
International School, Royal Academy of Music (UK), and the
Accra Film School where she studied Television Presentation
and Scripting.

040 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Dr. Mrs. Irene Stella Agyenim-Boateng:

C-Suite HR strategist

Dr. (Mrs.) Irene Stella Agyenim-Boateng is a C-Suite Strategic Dr. (Mrs) Agyenim-Boateng also has several personal awards to
Human Resource (HR) Executive. She is a product of her credit. Some of these are: HR Practitioner of the Year 2015/2016
University of Cape Coast where she obtained a Bachelor (HR Focus); Most Outstanding Corporate Executive in HR Award
of Arts (Hon.) and Diploma in Education concurrently. 2015 (Feminine Ghana Achievement Awards); and Top 10 Africa
HR Tech in Leadership Award 2015 (World HRD Congress 2015). The
Dr. (Mr.) Agyenim-Boateng holds a Master in Business Administration rest are Top 50 Most Innovative Global HR Tech Leaders Award
(HR Management) from University of Ghana Business School, and (World HRD Congress 2017); Life-Time Award for Consistency in
Master in Applied Business Research and Doctor of Philosophy HR Matters 2018 (The Business Executive); and Ghana Top 20 HR
in Business Administration, with research work on ”Effect of Leaders Award (Ghana Human Resource Innovation Awards).
Leadership on Company Innovation Culture: A Case Study of the
Service Industry in Ghana.” She has been an adjunct lecturer (Strategy and Business Policy)
at GIMPA and an occasional guest lecturer at Webster University,
She also has Post Graduate Diploma and Post Graduate Certificate Ghana Employers Association (GEA), VRA Academy, among
in Public Administration with Distinctions from Ghana Institute of others.
Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). She holds a
certificate in HR Management from Bailbrook College, United She is also a member of other professional bodies, including SHRM
Kingdom. Besides these, she has various certificates from short (Ghana Chapter) and Executive Women’s Network. She served as
courses attended in Ghana and other countries. She is a Fellow Vodafone Ghana’s representative on Ashesi University’s Corporate
of the Institute of Human Resource Management Practitioners Council for a period. She is a board member of Vodafone Ghana
(IHRMP), Ghana. Foundation; a board member of the Adventist Volunteer Services
Programme (AVSP) and the Chairperson for the HR Committee of
Dr. (Mrs) Agyenim-Boateng is the Director of HR at the Volta the AVSP. She is the Chairperson of the Adventists Young Ladies’
River Authority (VRA) and its subsidiaries, with additional Curriculum Development Committee; member of the IHRMP’s
oversight responsibility for the General Services Department of Curriculum Review and Development Committee; and member
the organization. Her duties encompass the overall HR strategy of the GEA Governing Council.
formulation, implementation and execution to achieve the “New
VRA’ agenda. Her achievements include the transformation She is a mentor to many in the HR profession, motivational
and re-positioning of the HR Department, including building the speaker, career counsellor and a training facilitator. She has
capability of the team and providing transformational leadership delivered several papers at seminars and other programs locally
in the management of employees. and internationally. For seven years, she has been a member of
the GEA delegation to the International Labour Organization (ILO)
Before joining the VRA, Dr. (Mrs) Agyenim-Boateng was the conferences in Geneva, Switzerland.
Group HR Director/Consultant for GLICO Group where she was
responsible for the end-to-end HR activities for all the Group’s She has been a leading member of the superintendent teams
subsidiaries. She was the Lead Consultant for Professional HR that successfully implemented some rationalization and business
Consult. restructuring exercises in several oragnizations, including the split
of the Post & Telecommunication Corporation; and World Bank
She is the immediate past HR Director of Vodafone Ghana Second Telecommunication Project Committee.
and Ghana Telecom where she managed a diverse workforce
of about 4,200 employees. She has a total of 33 years’ working Dr. (Mrs.) Agyenim-Boateng’s interests include youth development,
experience, rendering dedicated service to the telecom, family life counselling and Gender-related issues. She is married
insurance, consultancy, education and energy sectors. with four children.

She was very instrumental in the integration of Vodafone with
Ghana Telecom, contributing significantly to the successful
transformation of the state-owned company into a commercially-
viable, performance-oriented and culturally agile Vodafone with
high employee engagement and Line Manager scores year after
year.

She led Vodafone Ghana’s biggest people/structural
transformation, strategically championed the resourcing and
talent agenda, and introduced many novel initiatives in HR with
the Business Partnering concept. She was also responsible for the
internal communications, organizational effectiveness, change
management, fleet management and others.

Under her leadership, the VRA and Vodafone Ghana won several
awards, including HR Team of the Year (Public Sector), Employer
of Choice , Best Organisation in Employee Relations, Top Award
in Annual Wellbeing Challenge (two times), Most Improved
Vodafone Company in Health & Safety, Gender Diversity &
Inclusion Award, Property and Fleet awards.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 041

PROFILE

Oheneyere Dr. Gifty Anti:

A role model broadcaster, entrepreneur and feminist

Oheneyere Dr. Gifty Naana Afia Dansoa Anti (Awo after her. In 2018,
Dansoa) is an astute journalist, entrepreneur, the Manya Krobo
motivational and conference speaker, feminist/ Traditional Council
women’s rights advocate, mentor, multiple-award also honoured her
winner, philanthropist, counsellor and royal who needs no with the Yoo Kama
introduction in Ghana as she has been a fixture on national (The Woman of
television for nearly two decades, and has been actively Virtue) Honourary
prominent on many public forums in the country. Award.

Firstly, Oheneyere Dr. Gifty Anti is a professionally-trained post- Oheneyere Gifty Anti has also been recognized with citations by
graduate journalist, with specialization in radio and television. many institutions. These include: GIJ Gifty Anti Awards 2019; New
She commenced her first journalism work with Joy FM, an Accra- Born Hall of Fame by the Ghana Health Service-2018; Ghana
based radio station, where she was a regular panelist on the Women in Business Conference, 2015; Spring Board Road Shows
‘Young Generation’ and ‘Every Woman’ programmes. Later, she 2012, 2013 and 2014; Action Aid Ghana Girls Camp, 2014; and
worked with Ghana Television (GTV) of the Ghana Broadcasting Compassion International Students Camp.
Corporation (GBC) for 17 years, not exclusive of a one-year
mandatory National Service stint. At GTV, she was a newscaster She holds a Master degree in International Journalism from City
and a morning show host. She is currently one of Ghana’s leading University, London, and a Diploma in Journalism from the Ghana
and most celebrated broadcasters, a mentor and role model to Institute of Journalism (GIJ). She was offered an Honorary Doctor
many people, both young and old. of Letters by the Global Center for Transformational Leadership in
2012. She has attended training courses at the United Nations, the
As a skilled entrepreneur, Oheneyere Dr. Gifty Anti is the Founder Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, with an internship at
and Chief Executive Officer of GDA Media Ltd., producers of The SABC in South Africa.
Standpoint, a programme on a programme on JoyPrime & Praise
TV which she hosts. GDA Media has employed some people and She is the wife of the chief of Akwamu Adumasa, Nana Ansah
pays corporate and statutory taxes, thereby contributing to the Kwao IV, and the mother of a daughter - Nyame Animuonyam
national kitty for the country’s development. Afia Afrakoma Sintim-Misa. - Ahenkan and Princess of Akwamu
Adumasa.
In terms of motivational and conference speaking engagements, GDA Media’s ‘The Standpoint’ enlightens the public on women
she addressed huge audiences as a mentor and role model at empowerment
many tertiary and secondary educational institutions in and
outside Ghana such as the Counseling and Guidance Centre of GDA Media Limited is a private media production company which
University of Ghana, Wisconsin University College, Ghana Institute seeks to crusade for the total liberation and holistic empowerment
of Journalism, African University College of Communication, of women in education, health, employment, finance, politics
University of Cape Coast Nursing Students Association, Nkrumah and others through ‘The Standpoint.’ On July 11, 2008, GDA Media
University of Science & Technology, Coventry University, UK; and aired its first production of ‘The Standpoint,’ with its slogan, “Listen
Okuapeman Senior High School, Presbyterian Senior High School, to the Feminine Side” on GTV.
Legon, as well as Bethel Methodist Church.
‘The Standpoint’ is a programme that provides the platform for
She is the Founder and President of the Girl in Need Foundation women, young people and pro-women affairs men to discuss
and Awo Dansoa Reading Project. She is an ambassador for “taboo” topics concerning women advancement. The show
the campaign against newborn deaths. She is a former board deals with human rights and social issues concerning women,
member of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled. children, the vulnerable and socially-excluded persons. Panelists
on the programme discuss some of the challenges facing the
She has over 36 awards to her credit for her advocacy and socio-economic and political development of women and offer
activism work over the years. These include The Super Woman of suggestions on how some of these challenges can be resolved.
the Year - by Women’s Choice Awards Africa 2019; the United Some panelists also share their personal experiences to motivate
States (US) Embassy Guest Speaker Recognition (US Department and encourage others.
of State Diplomatic Security); 2018 Ghana Outstanding Women
Awards; 2015 RTP Development Show Host of the Year; 2014 It is aired on Joy Prime which is on MultiTV, Dstv channel 281 and
Ghana’s 100 Most Influential Personality; Life Time Achievement Praise TV. July 2019 marks the 11th anniversary of the programme.
Award for Excellence – 2018; Most Outstanding Corporate ‘The Standpoint’ is also aired on ABN TV on SKY Channel 235,
Executive In Media – 2015 Ghana Feminine Achievement Award which is across Western Europe, parts of Asia and North Africa,
(TBE); and Integrity International Leadership Award 2014. The other giving it a European viewership.
awards are Nobles International Leadership Award 2013; Overall
Female Young Professional Role Model of the Year, 2013; The Currently, its much-patronized website, www.thestandpoint.
African Women In Leadership Organisation’s Excellence Award; com.gh, YouTube channel and social media handles give ‘The
UN MDGS 4 & 5 Ambassador Award 2012; Friendship Foundation Standpoint’ a worldwide viewership. Therefore, women from
International Leadership Award 2012; and Ghana Women across the world benefit from ‘The Standpoint.’
Entrepreneurs’ Young Promising Personality, 2006. The programme was aired on OBE TV from 2009 to 2010 and
A cultural icon who promotes traditions and customs, she was Klear TV in 2012, both of which were on the Sky channel. Since its
honoured by the Bonwire Kente Festival in 2018 for promoting the inception, about 550 different programs have been broadcasted.
use of kente, and a kente cloth, ‘Gifty Anti,’ has been named

042 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Mrs. ewurama mercer

– Egudzi accessory distinct persona

Egudzi is an indigenous Ghanaian handmade
fashion accessory brand designed to
capture a woman’s distinct fashion persona.
Established as an online platform for retailing
customized afropolitan beaded jewelry three
years ago, the brand suits the peculiar tastes of
various women whilst aligning it with their unique
personalities.

The Accra-based fashion house boasts chic
collection of neckpieces designed to capture
the very essence of elegance. This pursuit is aptly
captured by the brand tag-line; ‘Experience
Elegance’.

As the unique brand of tasteful fashion garnered
increased interest and accumulated loyal clientele
both locally and abroad, the fashion house opened
its first flagship shop at Nyaniba Estates, Osu-Accra.

Inspired by the sheer grace and sophistication of
the modern African woman, Egudzi which literally
means treasures or precious Jewellery in Fante (An
Akan dialect spoken by the people of Ghana’s
Central region) is a delicate mix of authentic
African jewelry pieces melded with exotic Eurasian
gems. They come in a plethora of sizes, shapes and
vibrant colours put together with panache to elicit a
sophisticated look. Egudzi also uses antique African
bead collections from neighbouring countries with
a touch of Ghanaian sourced materials.

Our vision is to be the leading producer of
afropolitan handmade beaded accessories in
Africa and beyond that evince the wearer’s
personality whilst projecting the unique Ghanaian
cultural heritage.

This exciting start-up is a partnership between,
Mercy Owusu-Twumasi and Ewurama Mercer,
the Creative Director, behind the Egudzi brand of
fashion accessories indicates that her inspiration
for delving into the world fashion accessories, “I
have always had an eye for elegance. For me, the
highest form of elegance resides in simplicity and
this principle is what drives my craft. It is interesting
to see how something that started as a pastime has
quickly evolved into a passion and now a thriving
business.”

In the near future, Mercy and Ewurama who
manage the growing business intend to delve into a
bead-making institute which would train and equip
young people in the business of bead-making thus
scaling up employment opportunities for the youth.
Egudzi is also clearly passionate about giving back
to society as well and has several plans for it unique
CSR activities.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 043

PROFILE

mrs. Genet W. Michael:

Long-serving Country Manager, Ethiopian Airlines

Madam Genet W. Michael is the current Country quality and price “value proposition” is always better than
Manager in Ghana of Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s its competitors; ensure being an airline of choice to its
leading airliner. Madam Michael has been customers, employer of choice to its employees and an
working as the Country Manager for about six investment of choice to its owner; contribute positively to the
years and Ethiopian Airline has been successfully operating socio-economic development of Ethiopia in particular and
with various best achievement awards conferred on her and the countries to which it operates in general by undertaking
the airlines. its corporate social responsibilities and providing vital global
air connectivity.
Before coming to Ghana, she had a long work experience
in the airline industry in which she assumed various positions, Ethiopian Airlines’ values are safety as its first priority; high
including analyst, marketing officer, Manager in Regional performance and learning organization with continuous
Office and Country Manager. Madam Michael has a total of improvements, innovation and knowledge-sharing;
22 years working experience in the airline industry. Her previous recognition and rewarding employees for their performance
bosses had, and the current one, Tewolde Gebremariam, and demonstration of integrity, respect to others, candor and
Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, has confidence in her and team work; acting in an open fashion and be result-oriented,
have maintained her at the airlines’ office in Accra, Ghana’s creative and innovative; adoption of zero tolerance to
capital. indifference, inefficiency and bureaucracy, among others.

Due to the pivotal role that Madam Michael played, in May Ethiopian Airlines has won a long chain of awards
2019, the government of Ghana concluded a strategic internationally for its superb performance. The almost
partnership agreement with Ethiopian Airlines to establish countless recognition include the Company of the Year
a new national carrier for the West African country. The by All Africa Business Leaders Award; Best Airlines in Africa
government and the private sector will hold a majority stake Award for the 7th Consecutive year; Africa Lease Deal of
of 51% in the proposed airline while Ethiopian Airlines would the Year 2018 Award; and Best African Airline at Arabian
take the remaining shares. Travel Awards. The other awards are SKYTRAX Best Airline in
Ghanaian Aviation Minister Joseph Kofi Adda and Group Africa Award for the second time; Airline Reliability Award for
CEO Gebremariam signed the partnership agreement at the seventh year in a row; and Fastest Growing International
the headquarters of Ethiopian Airlines in Addis Ababa. The Cargo Airline of the Year.
proposed national airline will operate domestic, regional and
international flights. “It is still at an initial stage and we don’t It was formerly Ethiopian Air Lines (EAL) Inc., a joint venture with
have any timeline to start operation,” Gebremariam noted. American airline, Trans World Airlines (TWA). EAL was founded
But it is expected that the national airline will operate by end on 21st December, 1945 and commenced operations on 8th
of this year or early 2020. April, 1946. The first scheduled flight was to Cairo via Asmara
in a Douglas C-47 Skytrain. It has since been wholly state-
At the 2015 Feminine Ghana Achievement Awards, Madam owned but has been profitable.
Michael was crowned as the Most Outstanding Corporate
Executive in the Airline Industry. “Over the past 18 years you
have been serving Ethiopian Airlines in various capacities,
culminating in the position of Country Manager over the past
three years. Your excellent management has ensured that
Ethiopian Airlines is one of the most preferred airlines operating
in Ghana, especially as the gateway between Africa and the
eastern hemisphere. You are a credit to your home country,
Ethiopia, your alma mater, Addis Ababa University and your
employer, Ethiopian Airlines which is why you are rated as the
most outstanding corporate executive in the airline industry
in Ghana,” was the citation that accompanied her award.

She graduated with BA (Hon.) in Economics. She is married
and has two daughters.

Ethiopian Airlines envisions safe, market-
driven & customer-focused services

The vision of Ethiopian Airlines is to become the most
competitive and leading aviation group in Africa by providing
safe, market-driven and customer- focused passenger and
cargo transport, aviation training, flight catering, MRO and
ground services by 2025. Its mission is to become the leading
aviation group in Africa by providing safe and reliable
passenger and cargo air transport, aviation training, flight
catering, MRO and ground services whose

044 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

Mrs. Abena PROFILE

Pokuaa Amoah

Boaitey:

Hospitality expert and trainer

Mrs. Abena Pokuaa Amoah Boaitey is a United The hotel is equipped with restaurants which cater for all palettes;
Kingdom (UK) trained hospitality and tourism expert in Ghanaian as well as continental with a dedicated venue for
management and leadership. Teppanyaki based on request. Our ocean view Ghanaian Village
restaurant brings you closer to nature plus our lawns overlooking
Mrs. Amoah Boaitey has extensive experience in training and looking the Atlantic Ocean, offers an ideal location for weddings,
development, with over 25 years of experience in the hospitality parties that create memories that linger.
industry. She is also a customer service specialist and a qualified
lecturer in Hospitality, Tourism and Marketing. Elmina Beach Resort

Mrs. Pokuaa Boaitey is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Three star Elmina Beach Resort is located in the heart of the
Golden Beach Hotels Group and has over 500 employees under historic central region. The hotel boasts of 100 luxurious rooms
her supervision and management. Very passionate about her which include a Presidential suite and eight crown suites which
work and hardworking, she started from the bottom as a room offer guests luxury and opulent comfort.
attendant and worked her way up to a Duty Manager’s position.
She has worked in various hotels in the UK, including Marriott, Elmina Beach Resort provides extensive leisure facilities; two
London Hilton and the Dorchester Hotel. outdoor swimming pools, tennis, squash and basketball courts
and a circuit training gymnasium. The hotel has an all-day dining
After her sojourn in the UK, Mrs. Pokuaa Boaitey returned to Ghana restaurant with lip smacking menus. The Ngwa Night club and
in 2007. Her first job appointment was with the Ministry of Foreign elegant sports bar are ideal places to unwind after conferencing
Affairs where she was the events and operations manager. She at the hotel. Ngwa is also ideal for private parties and leisure guests.
then got engaged by Oak Plaza Hotel as a sales and marketing Elmina Beach has the largest and most modern conference
director and was part of the pioneer team that launched the facilities outside of Accra. It has over five conference facilities
hotel in Accra. which are capable of accommodating between two and 200
delegates.
She has a BA (Hons.) in Hospitality and Tourism Management and
a post graduate certificate in Education and Training. She is a On demand, Elmina Beach provides a guide and transport to
member of the Tourism Society in the UK, a member of the United places of interest such as the world renowned Kakum National
Nations Women in Tourism Committee and a board member of Park, with its nature and canopied walkways and the UNESCO
the HTM-Industry Advisory Board (UMES-USA). World Heritage Elmina and Cape Coast castles, Transatlantic
slaves transit points.
Golden Beach Hotels gladden hearts
Busua Beach Resort
Golden Beach Hotels Ghana Limited (GBH), a wholly owned
Ghanaian hospitality management company was incorporated Busua Beach Resort; the nature’s haven has proven to be the best
on 24th June, 1999 under the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) destination for leisure and business. It provides accommodation
of Ghana. GBH comprises La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, for guests in 62 well-appointed luxurious rooms which are built in
Elmina and Busua Beach Resort in the central and western regions a chalet style on the shores of what is arguably one of Ghana’s
respectively. most beautiful pristine beaches. Positioned on several acres of
natural sandy beaches overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Busua
GBH, with all three of its hotels dotted along the coastline, has boasts of restaurants with mouth-watering cuisine. The three-star
established a reputation as the finest resorts in Ghana. Each of the hotel has two restaurants and three outdoor pools.
hotels provides maximum comfort and has the best business and
conference facilities in the country. GBH’s philosophy is to provide Well-equipped conference facilities can handle up to 250 people.
its guests with a total tourism experience At Busua, a variety of leisure facilities welcomes every one. These
are tennis, water sports and children’s playground. Visitors can
La Palm Royal Beach explore ‘Abokwa,’ Busua’s private island. Nature-lovers can listen
to alluring bird songs from its bird sanctuary or bask in our pristine
La Palm Royal Beach is located on 24 acres of lush lawns pools.
overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors are inspired by the unique
chalet style of bedrooms and the beautiful architectural design of Voted the best Leisure Hotel in West Africa (Akwaaba Leisure
its Olympic style pool. La Palm Royal Beach is a four-star hotel with Awards 2007), Busua Beach is distantly nestled between Abidjan,
159 rooms comprising Royal, Presidential and Junior suites as well Cote d’Ivoire’s capital, and Accra.
as Executive and standard rooms. The layout of rooms in chalet
fashion creates the feeling of a village complete with restaurants,
pool, Spa, gym and casino. The hotel has a dedicated conference
center with nine (9) plenary and syndicate rooms for all your
conference and meeting needs. The Homowo conference
center has hosted a number of international conferences and
hosted presidents from across the globe.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 045

PROFILE

Catherine Nelson

– The organizational transformer

Catherine Nelson is arguably Ghana’s most skilled and These trainings awarded her a vast array of professional
capable expert in organizational transformation. certifications. She is a productivity and competitiveness analyst
Since 2014, Catherine has combined her vast with SEMTA; a Lead Auditor for ISO 9000 QMS from SGS UK’s
array of invaluable skills as General Manager and training services and British Standard Institute (BSI) and an A1
Management Representative of BAJ Freight and Logistics assessor for the UK’s National Vocational Qualification. She
Limited (BAJ), transforming it into one of the leading freight has certification in preparing to teach in the lifelong learning
forwarding and logistics companies in Ghana as far as sector (PTTLS) from City and Guilds as well as Level 3 in
international standards are concerned, and thereby making business improvement techniques from EMTA Awards Limited,
BAJ the clear leader in delivering the specialized services UK. These certifications led her to become an accredited
required by the country’s rapidly growing oil and gas industry. trainer with the UK National Skills Academy for Manufacturing
She has been pivotal in developing world-class service delivery (NSAM) to support the development of capable capacity
capabilities for Ghana’s section of the world’s biggest, most through training, assessment and certification of trainers. She
sophisticated and most demanding industries. personally delivered over 300 NVQs in Business Improvement
Techniques, a delivery directly related to the implementation
Catherine has an education and experience that combine of major aspects of the UK Government’s Leitch Report for
major techniques for business growth and improvement, skills development. Catherine is currently implementing an
strategy formulation and deployment, application of lean integrated management system for BAJ Freight and Logistics
thinking and six sigma, establishment and maintenance of Limited.
ISO and OHSAS management systems and implementation
of Total Quality Management (TQM) which provide a rare
complementary mix for industry. She is also a productivity
and competitiveness analyst and has implemented business
improvement techniques in both the manufacturing and
service sectors across Ghana and the United Kingdom.

Catherine’s skills span a wide area of crucial aspects of
corporate management but she is as intensely skilled in each
of them as anyone who has specialized in just one of them.
Indeed, it is her ability to combine all of them in a holistic way
that makes her so invaluable and inimitable. These skills range
from management systems auditing covering first, second and
third party auditing and training of internal auditors through A1
assessing and assessor training for the UK National Vocational
Qualifications (NVQ), to setting up EAL accredited Centres
for NVQs. Added to these, the ability to take on multiple roles
simultaneously, a skill she has put to excellent use throughout
her professional career, and unique presentation skills are her
special forte. This won her recognition in 2003 from Siemens,
a small gas turbines business in Lincoln, UK, for her business
improvement contributions.

Those skills result from an excellent, well planned education.
She obtained a Master’s degree in Quality Management from
the University of Paisley in Scotland, UK (now known as University
of West Scotland) in 2003. This came on the back of bachelor’s
degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in 1994.

Apart from these she has undergone an array of professional
training courses. In 1997, she underwent advanced training in
TQM at Stockholm, Sweden. In 2002, she had green belt training
at Rath & Strong, in Paris, France. In 2007, she had advanced
training in learning practice (ALPS) at the National Skills
Academy in UK. In 2016 and 2017 respectively, she undertook
retraining as a lead auditor (IS0 9001:2015) at Aberdeen,
Scotland, and ISO/DIS 45001.2 Migration and Implementing
Changes in Birmingham, both at BSI Training Academy, UK,
just to mention a few.

046 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

Ms. Paula Baldwin: PROFILE

Transforming Ghana’s banking business

Ms. Paul Baldwin is a banker par excellence and she is She holds a Diploma in Business Management from the University
employing her professional skills to change Ghana’s of the West Indies in Jamaica; Diploma in Project Management
banking sector for the better. Specifically, Ms. Baldwin and High School Diploma, Anglican High School, Grenada.
has been instrumental in the transformational agenda
of the Republic Bank Ghana over the past three years. Republic Bank (Ghana) – Most diversified financial institution
Republic Bank (Ghana) Limited is a subsidiary of Republic Financial
Since Ms. Baldwin joined the Republic Bank Ghana in 2015 on Holdings Limited (RFHL) of Trinidad and Tobago. Republic Bank is
secondment from Trinidad and Tobago, her immerse personal a leading Universal Banking Institution in Ghana and arguably the
contribution has helped the bank to have a competitive edge most diversified Financial Institution.
over other banks. Her multi-tasking capacity has ensured that
she is mainly responsible for the Retail Banking Department, As a one-stop financial institution, the bank’s services include
with oversight responsibility for four other departments, namely Corporate, Commercial and Retail Banking; Investment Banking;
Marketing and Communication, Business Development, Mortgage Banking; and Micro Finance. With its connection with
Mortgages and Central Clearings Operations. the Home Finance Company in Ghana, the bank has been very
instrumental in the development of the mortgage industry in the
She has brought her strengths of strong leadership, organisational country and continues to be the Number One home loan financer.
and planning skills, creative, innovative and analytical problem- It has supported many Ghanaians both home and abroad to own
solving capabilities to bear on the operations of the Republic Bank their homes.
Ghana. As a natural trainer, she has shown her ability to bring out
the best in people, especially her colleagues and subordinates. Republic Bank Ghana understands that banking is not a repeat
Seen as a thorough planner, Ms. Baldwin is self-driven and is able purchase of its services by customers but is a development process
to manage multiple priorities on a timely basis to achieve positive where it provides services by appreciating its customers’ needs
results. and building deeper and more effective customer relationships.
Having this as the thrust of its business, the bank provides innovative
“I can confidently say that Republic Bank is the employer that products that cut across its varied customer base.
believes in its people and provides them with opportunities to
grow” she said. When HFC Bank was transiting into Republic Bank, As a bank that believes in building successful communities,
she expressed her excitement at HFC Bank’s rebranding and the Republic Bank engages in a number of community-based
opportunities that would bring to the staff and customers of HFC engagements and initiatives. The bank ensures that as it works
Bank to deliver sustainable growth and shareholder value. It also
contributes to the wider community by being a responsible
Ms. Baldwin is seen by many of her colleagues as a customer- corporate citizen, a bank with a heart and an employer of choice.
focused banking professional. She has 35 years of retail banking
experience and has mentored many young bankers who are now Its highly skilled and professional staff remains committed to
holding various key roles in the Republic Financial Holdings. making Republic Bank’s customers the centre of its business by
delivering superior customer services at every point in time.
Ms. Baldwin was appointed General Manager responsible for Republic Bank’s parent company, RFHL, is the largest and most
Retail Banking at Republic Bank (Ghana) Limited with effect profitable Independent Bank in the English-speaking Caribbean,
from October 12, 2015. She is a customer-loving entrepreneurial having served the region for over 180 years. At the end of the
professional whose major strengths include strong leadership, 2017 financial year, the total assets of the Group stood at US$12
organisational and planning skills, creative, innovative and billion. RFHL is rated BBB+ by Standard and Poor’s. RFHL has played
analytical problem-solving capabilities and an ability to bring out a significant role in the oil and gas sector in Trinidad and Tobago,
the best in people. particularly in developing local content.

Proactive, self-driven and able to manage multiple priorities on a
timely basis. Works well independently and is a supportive team
player. More recently, facilitated the continuous development of
banking and finance professionals through the advancement of
educational programmes in Trinidad and Tobago.

In 2018, Paula was recognised as the Most Outstanding Female
Personality in Retail Banking in Ghana at the Feminine Ghana
Achievements Awards held in Accra at La Palm Beach Hotel. The
award, organized by The Business Executive, was in recognition of
her immense contribution and impact in transforming the Retail
Banking business of Republic Bank Ghana over the last three
years. A brief citation accompanying the award stated: “Ms.
Baldwin under your leadership, Republic Bank has completed its
expansion from being a primarily mortgage focus institution into
one of the most capable and reputed retail banks in Ghana. You
have successfully supervised the major upgrade of the Bank’s
retail banking products and services offering”.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 047

PROFILE

mrs. abena buachiwaa
brigidi

– Certified investment banker

Abena Buachiwaa Brigidi is a certified
Ghanaian investment banker and the Chief
Executive Officer of NIMED Capital Limited,
a premier investment banking firm in Ghana.
Her drive to create awareness for individuals and
corporate entities on the need to build wealth and
sustain this wealth for generations, influenced her
decision to transition from a decade of experience in
retail banking into investment banking.

Abena strongly opines that the core attributes of
teamwork, tolerance and trust are critical for leaders
in translating vision and strategy into actionable plans
for organizational growth. Her thought leadership
acumen and strategic approach to business makes her
outstanding in her field. As an author and a speaker, her
passion is to champion the course of financial literacy
in the 21st century by offering financial education
through various avenues. In September 2017, she
launched her first book on investment and planning for
a secure financial future titled “Little drops”.

Abena also has an outstanding track record in the Oil
and Gas industry. She served in the position of chief
financial officer at Karela Oil and Gas Ghana rose
through the ranks, and currently the chairperson for
the Karela Group of Companies. Abena B. Brigidi is
a seasoned woman of God and oversees the Nimed
Foundation, a christian charitable organization which
aims at supporting and bringing hope to mothers
with pre-term babies. She takes pride in reaching out
and reintegrating the most vulnerable in the society
especially women and children. She holds a bachelor’s
degree in Humanities from the University of Ghana and
as well as Masters of Business Administration (MBA) in
General Management from the University of East
London.

Abena Buachiwaa Brigidi was named in 2017 as one
of Africa’s top twenty five (25) distinguished women
in business, as well as Ghana’s most outstanding
women in business and again won the 2017 Emerging
woman Entrepreneur of the year award. She was listed
among the Top 50 Young CEOs in Ghana in 2018 by
Avance Media and recently named among the few
celebrated women at the Forbes Leading Women
Summit (RISING WOMAN) in March 2019 a platform
which honors women thought leaders, innovators,
thinkers, problem solvers and drivers of growth and
development.

048 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Selina Bebaako-Mensah:

The journalist, designer and entrepreneur

Selina Bebaako-Mensah is a trained broadcast journalist, Her Excellency Mrs. Lordina Mahama; both the current and
fashion accessories designer and a fashion entrepreneur. former Second Ladies, former CEO of GIPC, Mrs. Mawuena
Trebarh, Ghanaian celebrities like Joselyn Dumas, Anita Erskine,
Selina has a wealth of experience in customer service Gifty Anti, Okyeame Kwame, Becca, Sandra Ankobiah,
from working for top United Kingdom (UK) retail brands/shops, Naa Ashorkor, Nikki Samonas, Kokui Selormey and Dentaa
including Marks and Spencer, Habitat, Argos, The Perfume Amoateng (MBE). Hollywood stars, including Boris Kodjoe,
Shop and Boots the chemist. Nicole Ari Parker, Bozoma Saint John and Miranda Bailey, have
also been spotted with Selina Beb accessories recently.
Shortly after returning from the UK to Ghana in 2008, she was
trained in Broadcasting Techniques at the Ghana Broadcasting Selina is an International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP)
Corporations (GBC) Training school and was employed after alumna and represented Ghana at the African Women
her training by GBC as a radio presenter on GBC’s Uniq FM. Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP) which took place in the
She presented two programs there: ‘Highlife is Alive’ and ‘From United State of America in 2017 and was sponsored by the US
Me to You.’ Department of State.

While at GBC, she attended a one-month course in Radio She is a passionate, hardworking and enterprising young lady.
Broadcasting Techniques at China Radio and TV Co. in Beijing, She believes in touching and impacting lives in a positive way.
China. She moved to Radio XYZ in 2012 where she continued She loves God and loves putting smiles on the faces of people,
working as a radio presenter who hosts talk shows and the especially the underprivileged.
mid-morning program on the station till August, 2014 when she
resigned to concentrate on her brand, SELINA BEB. Ms. Bebaako-Mensah loves children and is an advocate of
women and children’s rights. She believes in equal and fair
While at Radio Xyz, she did a top up degree program at opportunities for both the “girl child” and the “boy child”.
Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and graduated with a BA
in communications (Hons), majoring in Broadcast Journalism. She attended Ola Girls Secondary School in Ho, the Volta
Region of Ghana, for her General Certificate of Education
Her deep passion for fashion, especially accessories, made (GCE)’O’ and ‘A’ Level certificates. She then went to the UK
her start her accessories brand - Selina Beb in 2012. Selina in 1997 to pursue a law degree at Anglia Ruskin University in
Beb produces African print accessories and has become a Chelmsford, Essex, UK. She studied and worked in the UK for 11
household name known for its unique and quality designs. years and moved back to GHANA in 2008.
Because she believes in educating herself and being excellent
in whatever she does, Selina did a short course on bag making Her hobbies are inspiring people/motivational talks, traveling,
and designing in August-September 2015 at the prestigious fashion, tennis, listening to music and anything entertainment
Fashion School, Academy of Costume and Fashion in Rome, related. Her family is her parents and five siblings.
Italy.

Selina Beb has participated in numerous exhibitions and
fashion shows, including New Orleans Fashion Week in 2018,
GUBA expo 2014 and 2016 in the UK, Africa Fashion Week,
London 2015 and Glitz Africa Fashion Week in 2013, 2016 and
2018.

Selina Beb won two international awards at THE 6TH BI-ANNUAL
EUROPEAN INVENTORS AND INNOVATORS NETWORK (EUWIIN)
AWARDS 2017 in Bari, Italy. Also, Selina won the Accessory
Designer/Brand of the Year in 2015 at the Glitz Style Awards in
Ghana. She garnered an award for Exceptional Achievement
in High End Fashion Accessories at the Feminine Ghana
Achievement Awards in 2016. Selina Beb has also received
several nominations, including Accessories Brand of the Year
for 2015 at the Ghana Fashion Awards and a Ghana UK-Based
Achievement (GUBA) Award in London in 2017.

She has been named as one of the 100 Most Outstanding
Women Entrepreneurs in Ghana and the brand/company has
been listed in the 100 Globally Competitive Start-Ups in Ghana.
Selina Beb products are sold all over the world. The company’s
high profile customers include the former First Lady of Ghana,

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 049

PROFILE

mrs. Doreen Avio:

The silky voice on the airwaves

Doreen Avio’s is one of the silkiest voices on the She is a brand influencer and news reporter and writes for
crowded Ghanaian airwaves. Doreen has won a myjoyonline.com, the Multimedia Group’s online platform.
very good following with her smooth-sweet voice For these accomplishments, Doreen was awarded the
on radio. Best Achiever in Media-Radio at the 5th Feminine Ghana
Achievement Awards in Accra on 27th April, 2019.
She joined the Multimedia Group Ltd. as a sales executive.
After a few months of executing sales, she requested to Growing up, she wanted to become a nurse because she
be moved to the radio production team. Her request was likes to help and take care of people but life took her on
granted and that is how she found herself on the radio a totally different career path. Says Doreen: “It has been
section of the company. an experience, but with God by my side, strong will and
determination and not giving up on myself or allowing
Being generally a shy person because of the situations she circumstances to determine my future, I am where I want to
went through while growing up with her step mothers, she be and still moving on, expecting to attain greater heights.”
did not believe in herself. Thus self-confidence had eluded She is married to her most loved one, Mr. Cyril Karl Sackeyfio;
her. Going into radio was therefore a daunting task for her.
She thought knowing that people would hear her speak on
radio, she would freak out when it was time for her to go on
air. But that was not so.

With the stealthy passage of time, encouraging words and
support from a loved one, Doreen decided to believe in
herself and recognize her potential. Sooner than later, she
worked hard at her confidence while learning on the job.
Gradually, she overcame her phobia and cruised on air
smoothly, surprising many people who knew her real nature
as a shy individual.

Whilst in her position as the host of the entertainment
program, and occasionally as a co-host on Hitz FM’s morning
show with the versatile Lexis Bill, she took the opportunity to
enroll in Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and take a short
course in Public Relations (PR) in an attempt to further her
education and hone her professional skills.

Doreen completed the PR course in six weeks. By that time,
she had improved her skills as a radio broadcaster. Her job
role as a presenter became more and more interesting and
she enjoyed what she was doing and how far she had gone
in terms of professional experience and acumen. But that did
not stop her determination to finish what she had started in
terms of her education. So she applied and was admitted
to study Strategic Communication at African University of
Communication, where she graduated and was awarded a
Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honors).

Doreen’s work progressed from radio to television (TV).
Now, she does both. She is currently a host of ‘Let’s Talk
Entertainment’ on Joy News, a TV channel of the Multimedia
Group. Her TV presence gave her the opportunity to host
other shows like the Miss Ghana 2017 diaries, the Red Carpet
for the 2nd edition of the Radio and Television Awards, the
Red Carpet show on Joy Prime, co-host the Celebrity Fan
Zone on GhOneTV, be the master of ceremonies (MC) for
Nestle Ghana’s end of year party in 2016 as well as MC for
the Ghana DJ Awards nominee announcement ceremony,
to name a few.

Doreen is currently the co-host of the drive-time show on Hitz
FM, ‘Cruise Control,’ and host of ‘Let’s Talk Showbiz’ on Joy
News.

050 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

Mrs. Baisiwa PROFILE

Dowuona-Hammond

– Versatile PR/ media consultant and entrepreneur

Baisiwa Dowuona-Hammond (Mrs) is a woman of many
parts, a very positive and high energy individual and always
looks forward to a bright future for all. Versatile radio and
TV Host, PR/Media Consultant, Entrepreneur, Founder and
Chair of the Pumpkins Foundation, she has an interest to make
the best out of every situation and is always willing to help others.

A Child Care and Development Advocate, Baisiwa endears to
children from all backgrounds. She is a mother and a helper.

Baisiwa obtained her Journalism qualification at the London on the need for reliable, objective, analytical, and comprehensive
School of Journalism in 2007, focusing on Radio and Television reporting on Ghanaian businesses and the economic environment,
Production as well as report writing. She is a product of the Regent from 2014 to 2015.
University college of Science and Technology, Ghana, where she
received her Bachelor of Science Degree. She is very entrepreneurial, has a passion for women and children
In her quest to improve and better herself at all times, she further issues and has always shown the ability to be proactive. With a
trained and acquired certificates in voice training and effective strong ability to multi-task, Baisiwa started the Pumpkins Company
communication, public relation, advertising and marketing as Limited, a child-focused organization while working in the media,
well as reports and documentaries with the Ghana Institute of where she traded and specialized in everything children, including
Journalism and Deutsche Welle (DW) Television. events and grooming for boys and girls.

She currently works for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Following her undying love for children and with support from her
Integration in a newly created unit, in her quest to use the media husband, Mr George Dowuona-Hammond, Baisiwa founded the
as a tool to promote diplomatic relations. Pumpkins Foundation which was birthed out of her child-focused
business and has since been working towards the empowerment
As the Public Relations and Media Consultant to the Ministry and well being of children, especially the underprivileged ones,
of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Baisiwa works to their families and the communities where they live.
project and support media excellence in the promotion of the
Ministry’s policy agenda and direct focus on Foreign Affairs issues In 2017, Baisiwa and the Pumpkins Foundation led the revival and
and concerns. She offers the necessary media support for the commemoration of August 31st as the Ghana National Children’s
leadership of the Ministry, led by the Hon. Minister and coordinates Day that recognizes the contributions of the country’s future
communication between the Ministry and the country’s Missions leaders with support from the Ghana Coalition of NGO’s on the
abroad. rights of the child, the Ministry for Gender, Children and Social
protection and other stakeholders.
Following her desire to achieve, Baisiwa continues to push for
the sensitization, capacity building and recognition of Journalists She sought and secured support for some deprived children in
from selected media houses on the workings and activities of the deprived communities including children living with cerebral palsy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, working closely through her foundation work at the Pumpkins Foundation. As well,
with retired Diplomats with a wealth of knowledge in the area of through her foundation and other volunteer works, Baisiwa has
International Relations & Diplomacy as well as Global politics. gone ahead to mentor several young people who have achieved
With a goal to ensure a more effective and sustainable rapport their aspirations in various sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
between the Foreign Ministry and the media, Baisiwa continues
to initiate programs for sustainable engagements between the Herself, a beneficiary of the helpers of society, Baisiwa believes
Ministry and the latter. the support she received is more than enough motivation to make
her want to help others. Baisiwa is a member of the Ghana
For almost two decades, Baisiwa served as a mouthpiece for the Journalists Association with good standing and an Affiliate-
public in her capacity as a Broadcast Journalist, working in both member of the Institute of Public Relations – Ghana.
radio and television, including TV Africa, TV3 and Ghone TV. In
2012, Baisiwa had a stint with the multimedia group, co-hosting
the Super Morning Show on Joy 99.7 Fm alongside substantive host
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, now Ghana’s Minister for Information.
Undoubtedly one of Ghana’s highest profile, award winning
current affairs presenters and RTV multiple nominee et al, Baisiwa
has interviewed many of the country’s leading politicians, decision
makers and thought leaders around the world.

For her unparalleled professionalism, Baisiwa was adjudged the
Most Outstanding Female Television Personality at the 4th Feminine
Ghana Achievement Awards held in Accra in March 2018. She is a
two–time host of the SHE-SUMMIT, a Glitz Africa Initiative and host
of the 2016 TEDX Spintex Dialogue. She was a Jury Member for
the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ) Flamingo
Awards, a scheme that serves as a platform to raise awareness

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 051

PROFILE

Ophelia Crossland

– classic epitome of fashion

APan-Africanist and a luxury fashion designer, Ophelia
Crossland is a classic epitome of the real-life super
woman, with a sense of style like none other. Her
eclectic style and design reflect life, optimism and
humor, while paying homage to her roots. She is the Chief
Executive of Ophelia Crossland Designs.

Indeed, style and fashion have always been a part of Ophelia’s
family. Her grandmother was a former Miss Gold Coast, and
also a prominent cloth merchant during the colonial period.
Her mother was also in the fabric and fashion industry for over
forty years. With a skin made to fit the finest fabric and bleeding
colors, Ophelia grew up playing with threads and needles. This
is evident in her quality work which is aimed at satisfying the
needs of her clients for all occasions.

Graduating as the most outstanding student of the year 2004
from Vogue Style School of Fashion and Design, one of the most
prestigious fashion schools in Ghana,

Ophelia started her fashion line in that same year. And she
has since brought about a revolution in the fashion industry in
Ghana.
Learning and eventually attaining mastery over colors, fabrics,
and designs, Ophelia developed the skill of blending these
three elements to create her unique masterpieces which are
loved and well patronized.

When asked about her clientele, Ophelia said: “They come to
me by word of mouth. We are also very active on social media
and we get a lot of referrals from other people. We sell online
and we work with retail outlets in the UK where they sell our
products across Europe. We have other people who own other
retail outlets in Angola and Ivory Coast, so we export to those
countries.”

It was, therefore, no wonder that Ophelia was made the brand She has released her latest collection tagged “Spring Summer
ambassador for Swarovski for the years 2016 and 2017; and she 2019(SS19)” in love with Summer, the use of finest cotton, silk
is currently the brand’s ambassador in West Africa. She was also and Brocade
the first African designer to participate in Swarovski Sparkling
Couture Infinity 2017 in Dubai, UAE, and created a sparkling In 2018, Ophelia debuted her latest collection tagged
garment made with 45,000 Swarovski crystals. The fifteen gowns “Malaika”. Customers particularly loved the alluring floral
that was showcased was part of her new collection. appliqués, the use of silk kente, brocades, velvet, silk organza
and Swarovski embellishments.
The clients of Ophelia Crossland Designs include prominent
personalities in Ghana like Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo, the Indeed, worthy of much accolades, she has also won several
former Speaker of Parliament, Georgina Theodora Wood, the awards. Some of which include Womenswear Designer of the
former Chief Justice, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman- Year 2018, Ghana Fashion Award for Emerging Designer 2012,
Rawlings, Gifty Anti, Juliet Ibrahim and Joselyn Dumas. Ghana Movie Awards’ Best Wardrobe and Costume Designer
With all these achievements on her palette of many colors, 2014 and Feminine Ghana Achievement Award for the Most
Ophelia manages to stand out as a mother. After the birth Outstanding Fashion Designer of 2015. The others are Swarovski
of her first daughter, she saw to the conception of her Kids’ Training Workshop Award for the Best Designer and Brand
Clothing Line called Ohemaa Kids Klub, appropriately named Ambassador in West Africa 2016, Swarovski Brand Ingredient
after her daughter Ohemaa. It is a clothing line that specializes 2017-2018 and Glitz Style Awards - Women’s Wear Designer of
in kids’ apparel for both boys and girls. the year 2018.

Ophelia has shown her worth as an icon and a fashion designer. She is married and has two children.
Her works speak for themselves, and she has broken barriers
that most may have considered impossible. She shows no signs
of stopping on her trailblazing quest in the fashion industry, and
this only speaks of much greater things to come.

052 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Mrs. Sonya Sadhwani

– branding Melcom to success

As the Director of Brand Management at Melcom
Group of Companies, Sonya Sadhwani is the force
behind the enviable Melcom brand in Ghana.

Sonya’s journey in brand management started over 15 years
ago when she joined the management team of the Melcom
Group. She has excelled in her role as Director of Brand
Management by not only following through with the traditional
duties of overseeing the company’s strategic marketing
initiatives, but also taking risks and ensuring that the Melcom
Brand caters to the ever-growing needs of Ghanaians.

As the Director of Brand Management, she leads the
development of the brand’s messages and creative designs
in order to attract potential customers. She also leads go-to-
market planning within the business, with departments such
as public relations, communications and advertising. Her
ideas, creativity and brand development projects pushed the
branding and advertising agenda to new heights resulting in
successful project campaigns, enhancement of strategies
across its online website (www.melcom.com), digital and social
media, email campaigns, SEO/SEM, etc.

Some of the campaigns include “Melcom Donkomi Yateso”,
“Made In Ghana”, “We Must Be Crazy”, “Beautiful Homes”, “I
love my Kitchen” and “Market Dey Wednesday” to mention
a few. These campaigns create increased market share that
make a profound impact in the minds of Ghanaians.

Sonya heads the CSR agenda and leads its execution under The major portion of its business is retail and it is also highly
the Melcom Care Foundation. Her CSR initiative on education placed in semi-wholesale and wholesale distribution due to
and health is to ensure a healthier and more productive world. the vast range of good it stocks. Several factors contribute to
She has led developmental and community empowerment making Melcom the household name it is today in the country.
programs that focus on giving back to the society. These include Melcom Group is committed to providing great services with a
donating to brilliant but needy students, hospitals; offering smile; unbeatable value for money; quality merchandise; and
scholarships for employees’ intelligent children; partnering with the largest variety of goods under one roof. For promotion of
Project Maji Foundation to bring clean water to rural populations its goods, Melcom instituted ‘Best Buys’ and ‘Black Friday’ to
in Ghana. increase sales.

Sonya continues to create strategies that push the Melcom By sourcing its products from all over the world, Melcom is able
Group to perform successfully in a diverse market, with the aim to offer shoppers a huge range of extremely affordable goods,
that advertising and brand management will facilitate growth which leaves them spoilt for choice. Through perseverance,
and generate more consumer awareness. hard work and dedication from all levels of the vast workforce, it
has been possible not only to identify and achieve these goals,
She is the President of Friends of Life and the Blind Association but also to give ultimate consumer satisfaction, which is the
of Ghana. One of Sonya’s oft-quoted sayings is: “Give life your essence of Melcom’s existence.
hand, and you will be surprised where it takes you.”
As society becomes more affluent, the needs and requirement
Sonya was born and educated in Accra, and continued her standards of Melcom’s esteemed and loyal customers change
education in Hong Kong, which was then a British possession, and grow. In keeping with Melcom Group’s continuous efforts
and at the renowned New York University (NYU) where she to provide Ghanaian customers with the paramount shopping
majored in Business Education. She is a recipient of the National experience, it has also recognized the need to keep up with the
Business Association in Business Education at NYU. shifts in consumer trends.

She is married to Mr. Ramesh Sadhwani, the Joint Group Due to its affordable quality commodities, Melcom is able to
Managing Director of Melcom Group and they have two maintain its position as the fastest growing chain store in the
children, Prerna and Manoj. country, and boasts of the largest number of outlets spread
throughout the country.
Melcom Ltd. - Ghana’s largest retail
department stores


Melcom Group Ltd. is Ghana’s largest chain of retail department
stores, with its head office is located at 2nd Palace Link Road,
North Industrial Area in Accra. Melcom has 38 shops nationwide.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 053

PROFILE

Mrs. Jemima Mamaa Oware

– Ghana’s pace-setting Registrar-General

Since Mrs. Jemima Mamaa Oware became Ghana’s As a result of her dedication to duty and multiple spectacular
first female the Registrar-General, Mrs. Oware has achievements, Mrs. Oware has been receiving awards since
successfully introduced reforms at her Department 2016 when she was awarded by the Northern Youth For Peace
that have been hailed by many business operators & Development for the 5th National Achievers Awards. The
and investors, stamping her authority as a pace-setter in the award was for the several roles she played, and is still playing,
country. to impact positively and profitably in the Ghanaian corporate
world by spearheading many reforms in business registration
Through the reforms, she has cut down the turnaround time to bring services to the doorsteps of clients, thereby making it
in the registration of businesses. The Registrar General’s easier and convenient for transactions.
Department (RGD) recently launched a platform to make
business registration simple for prospective business registrants Secondly, she was recognized with the Ghana Development
in Ghana. The previous eight steps for 14 days that the Awards for managing the registration of Ghana’s private
prospective business registrant had to go through had been sector enterprises effectively and ensuring their compliance
reduced to three steps for four days. with the regulations. A Certificate of Recognition was
presented to her for being ranked among the 2016
The platform has the registration forms for the Ghana Revenue WomanRising Top 50 Corporate Women Leaders in Ghana.
Authority Tax portal, the Business Registration form of the RGD On 4th August, 2017, she was awarded the Most Outstanding
and the Business Operation Permit fused together to help Public Sector Official by The Business Executive for the 3rd
eliminate bottlenecks associated with the business registration Feminine Ghana Achievement Awards.
in the country. “From March 25, 2019, new business cannot
register until the digital address of the business is supplied In 2018, she was awarded by the Entrepreneurs Foundation
together with the other data of the business to enable us to of Ghana at the 8th Ghana Entrepreneur & Corporate
complete the registration seamlessly,” Mrs. Oware said at a Executive Awards 2018 as the Best Woman CEO of 2017 in
press conference in Accra early this year. the Public Sector category. To top all the accolades to her
achievements in the corporate arena, the Africa International
The reforms also brought significant changes in the way of Award of Merit for Achievement, Excellence and Honour for
doing business in Ghana. The reforms include the introduction reforms in the business arena was bestowed on her on 24th
and implementation of the online portal, eCertificates, August, 2018.
digitization of companies’ records, the automation of
the Regional Offices of the Department. To make the Mrs. Oware was born on 17th May, 1961 in Tamale, Northern
decentralization of its operations effective, she saw to the Region. She attended the University Primary School after
setting up of a new office in Sunyani, Bono Region. which in 1972 she went to the Wesley Girls’ High School
where she obtained both her GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ Levels. She
Mrs. Oware was instrumental in the review of the 1963 matriculated into the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1979
companies law and drafting of a Companies Bill that was and obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA). She proceeded to the
passed into the Companies Act in 2018. The new Companies Ghana School of Law in 1982 for her Barrister-At-Law. She was
Act was amended to track Ghana’s extensive beneficiary called to the Ghanaian Bar in October 1984.
ownership regime effective from this year. The implementation
of the Act will transform the way of doing business in an She is married with five children: four boys, one daughter. She
innovative way. Her untiring efforts have brought about has one grand-daughter.
the facelift of the RGD, making the Department create a
congenial environment for its numerous clients.

Mrs. Oware started her career in 1985 as a lawyer with
Sackandah Chambers. Her legal skills were spotted by the
state and she was recruited by the Ministry of Justice and
Attorney-Generals’ Department, the Prosecution Division in
1987 as an Assistant State Attorney.

When she excelled at the Justice Ministry, she was assigned
to the RGD in 1994 as a Senior State Attorney. By dint of
diligence and endurance, she got promotion after promotion
and finally became the Acting Registrar-General in 2015. She
became the substantive Registrar-General since 27th July,
2017.

She is also a Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, member of the Ghana Bar Association and
the Federation of International Women Lawyers Association
(FIDA), Ghana.

054 Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame

PROFILE

Suzain Manassian dodoo:

personal brand and image strategist

Suzain Manassian Dodoo is a personal brand and Started in 2015 at the residence of H.E Pavelyn Tendai
image strategist, an experienced motivational Musaka, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, The Diplomatx
speaker, gifted writer and a seasoned Ruawy has made substantial gains over the years, with
entrepreneur with many years of business and last year’s event being hosted by H.E. Claudia Turbay,
corporate success and excellence. ambassador of Colombia Embassy in collaboration
with UNFPA. The main objective of the event is to honor
Suzain is a wellness grooming, image and lifestyle expert national and international designers who employ ethical
who is widely regarded as a thought leader across the practices in their design and manufacturing processes
corporate and professional spectrum in Africa. She is a to create and sustain economic opportunity and also
strong advocate for the industry, particularly promoting to provide awareness about how fashion, textiles and
education and excellent standards. design can be used to eradicate women health related
issues.
She is also a personal impact, professional growth and
influence expert who has specialized in humanness, Suzain was optimistic: “This year’s event will add greater
entrepreneurship, leadership and power. She has a potential in the fashion and business Industry with music
passion for young ladies, believing that they can fly no from Steve Bedi the ace saxophonist, fashion show from
matter how unconventional they are, and is a mentor the renowned fashion designer Royal Dennis from Ghana
to many. and fashion designer Betty Eldad from Israel.”

She has worked successfully on numerous branding Suzain spends her leisure in looking for and reading
projects with leading fashion agencies. Suzain has inspiration in books. She also expresses her creativity
impressed upon her clients that effective communication through her love for fashion by designing. She believes
through visuals is relevant in building powerful personal in women’s empowerment through education and
and corporate brands. participates through speaking opportunities at women’s
events.
As a trainer she has through Gorjiors Image & Me
organisation and worked with Chief Executive Officers For great achievements, she garnered the Image
of Ghana Club100. She has also collaborated with small- Consultant of the Year at the 5th Feminine Ghana
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to deliver corporate Achievement Awards held at La Palm Royal Hotel in
training programs for their teams. Her unique training Accra on 27th April, 2019. The awards organized by The
style and image makeover sessions has helped enhance Business Executive, publishers of The Business Executive
the personal images of several individuals, which has magazine.
reflected on the corporate image of the organisation.

A seasoned writer, Suzain has written articles for
magazines, including HR Focus to share her expertise
on corporate image building. Her work has been
highlighted and praised by many people in her several
media appearances in Daily Graphic, newspaper
articles, on TV programs and interviews at various radio
stations.

Importantly, she is humanitarian, assisting persons who
are ill and needy. She is the CEO of Gorijors International
Foundation. Gorjiors International is committed, and
continues, to be at the forefront of bringing an end to
the Fistula challenge by 2020. It creates the platform
for business men and women both local and foreign
in Ghana to engage in massive networking with other
countries.

Gorjiors International, in partnership with the Israel
Embassy, initiated anti- obstetric fistula campaign with
a musical and fashion event dubbed ‘The Diplomatx
Runway’ on 30th October, 2017 at Kempinski Hotel Gold
Coast in Accra. In 2016, 25 year-old-girl treated of the
most complicated fistula challenge through funds raised
on the Diplomatx Runway platform and she is now back
in school.

Ghana Feminine Hall of Fame 055

TOURISM

‘Year of Return’:
A reunion to build bridges
across the Atlantic

By Ayuure Kapini Atafori victims of the trans-Atlantic slave ‘Year of Return’ is in consonant with
trade who were dispersed and President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s
The ‘Year of Return, Ghana 2019’ displaced throughout the world in major development blueprint, ‘Ghana
is being celebrated from the pre-independence America. One of Beyond Aid.’
beginning to the end of July, but the the main goals of the ‘Year of Return’
commemoration is year-long. Ghana observance is to position Ghana as This explains the interest and
has very good reasons to celebrate a key travel destination for African- involvement of President Akufo-Addo
and commemorate. The ‘Year of Americans in particular, and the to make the ‘Year of Return’ program a
Return’ is an avenue for the Global African Diaspora in general. The events resounding success. First, he launched
African family to gather in Ghana and planned for this year serve as forums for the ‘Year of Return, Ghana 2019’ at
mark 400 years of the arrival of the boosting tourism in Ghana. Besides the Washington, D.C., US, in September
first enslaved Africans in Jamestown, expected gain from tourism, the 2018 to give a new impetus for uniting
Virginia. Africans on the continent with their
The ‘Year of Return’ celebrates
the cumulative resilience of all the kindred in the Diaspora.

He told the audience: “We
know of the extraordinary
achievements and
contributions they [Africans
in the Diaspora] made to the
lives of the Americans, and it
is important that this symbolic
year—400 years later—we
commemorate their existence
and their sacrifices.” He said
“Together on both sides of the
Atlantic, we’ll work to make
sure that never again will we
allow a handful of people with
superior technology to walk into
Africa, seize their people and
sell them.”

Second, the Akufo-Addo-led
government organized the
Full Circle Festival for African
Diasporan celebrities such as
Idris Elba, ace actor, Naomi
Campbell, supermodel, and
Mike Hill, TV sports presenter, to
have guided tours of the slave
dungeons, to have feel of their
own history.

40 The Business Executive

TOURISM

Third, in June 2019, the President Again, it is in Ghana that one can Why should the dungeons not be
embarked on a diplomatic-cum- find forts, castles, slave markets and rehabilitated? Why should the
cultural whirlwind tour of some the river, where the captured slaves sentimental returning African have his/
Caribbean countries, where many took their last baths before they her way with leaving the dungeons
descendants of African slaves live. He were shipped away, co-existent; intact and untouched? The controversy
visited Guyana, St. Vincent and the pulling many African-Americans and arises from the contradictory acts of
Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean people to the country to officialdom’s use of state structures to
Barbados and Jamaica. Majority of reconnect with their roots. The Cape refurbish the castles and dungeons
slaves who were ferried to the West Coast Castle and its neighbor, Elmina so that people of African descent
Indies came from then Gold Coast Castle, are notable edifices recognized cannot also experience what Dr. Lee
(now Ghana). Some of these slaves by the United Nations Educational, experienced in the dungeons.
who originated from Koromanti Scientific and Cultural Organization
and Asante founded Jamaica and (UNESCO) as World Heritage Sites of the Another strong justification for Ghana
Guyana. slave trade period. being the natural place to observe
the ‘Year of Return’ is the life and
In all the countries, President Akufo- Memory and symbolism personality of Kwame Nkrumah, who
Addo assured all Caribbean people led the Gold Coast to independence
who want to visit Ghana to partake in The matter of the preservation, memory from Britain on 6th March, 1957.
the ‘Year of Return’ commemoration and symbolism of the slave dungeons Nkrumah became politically conscious
of easy travel. He secured visa waiver in Ghana has been controversial for when he imbibed anti-colonialism and
agreements from the leaders of the a long time. In his journal article titled Pan-Africanism while studying and
various nations. He recalled that the ‘Tourism in Ghana: The Representation working in the US. “Kwame Nkrumah
trans-Atlantic slave trade commenced of Slavery and the Return of the came to America during this time and
with about 20 slaves from West Africa Black Diaspora,’ Edward M. Bruner, into this atmosphere. ‘The Back to
who were sent to the Commonwealth Professor Emeritus at the Department Africa’ teaching of Marcus Garvey was
of Virginia, now part of the United of Anthropology, University of Illinois at now being reconsidered,” writes John
States (US). He said about 20 million Urbana-Champaign, Urbana averred: Henrik Clarke, an African-American
people from Central and West Africa “For many African Americans, the historian, professor and a pioneer in the
were sold and transported to the castles are sacred ground not to be creation of Pan-African and Africana
Americas and the Caribbean as slaves. desecrated. They do not want the Studies.
castles to be made beautiful or to be
Best suited to host whitewashed. They want the original “As a result of Kwame Nkrumah’s
stench to remain in the dungeons. understanding of the plight of Afro-
Ghana is best suited to host ‘Year Americans, and his knowledge that
of Return’ because of a number In Dr. Lee’s eloquent words, a return so much of their skills are unused in
of reasons. Its coastline is dotted to the slave forts for diaspora blacks this country, he established a better
with more castles whose dungeons is a ‘necessary act of self-realization,’ relationship with black Americans that
accommodated slaves and had ‘doors for ‘the spirits of the Diaspora are no other African head of state had
of no return’ than any other African somehow tied to these historic done before or since. During this period
country. This is indicative that the slave structures.’ Some diaspora blacks when he was in power, he employed
trade took a tremendous toll on the feel that even though they are not more black Americans than all of the
people of the Gold Coast, which was Ghanaians, the castles belong to other African states put together. This
part of the broader West African coast them.” is one way that he used to spell out his
stretching from Nigeria to the Gold Pan- African concept and his belief
Coast then known as the Slave Coast. in the eventuality of an African world
union,” Clarke penned.

African-American icons

Nkrumah had close relations with
eminent persons of African ancestry
living in America, Europe and the
Caribbean. African-American icons
such as Muhammad Ali and Malcolm
X visited Nkrumah. George Padmore,
famous Trinidadian Pan-Africanist, Dr.
W.E.B. Du Bois, Afro-American father
of Pan-Africanism, and his wife, Shirley
Graham, worked with Nkrumah on
various projects. Padmore, who was

The Business Executive 41

TOURISM

Nkrumah’s adviser on African affairs, 20 years old, recounts: “Nkrumah saw commemoration through successfully.
and Du Bois, who Nkrumah put in charge the American Negro as the vanguard “We are focused on ensuring that
of the Encyclopedia Africana project, of the African people. He wanted our brothers and sisters have a safe,
have their graves in Accra, Ghana’s to be able to utilize the services and pleasant and wonderful journey home
capital. Together with the mausoleum skills of African-Americans as Ghana so they will want to come back, get
of Nkrumah, the country boasts of made the transition from colonialism to involved, see the opportunity that exists
being the burial place of the three most independence.” in Ghana for us to work together and
prominent Pan-Africanists, making Accra Also, Ghana enacted the Citizenship begin to rebuild what has been stolen
a Mecca for passionate believers in the Act in 2000 to allow dual citizenship and lost over the past 400 years,” states
African cause. so that people of Ghanaian descent www.yearofreturn.com.
who are citizens of other countries can
In his article ‘How Ghana made itself simultaneously maintain their Ghanaian The ‘Year of Return, Ghana 2019’
the African home for a return of the citizenship if they chose. In the same coincides with the biennial Pan-African
black diaspora,’ Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu year, the country promulgated the Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST).
noted: “In some ways, it was a driving Immigration Act, which provides “Right
force for him to return home in 1947 and of Abode” for “Person of African descent Some activities marking the ‘Year of
eventually become the lead architect in the Diaspora” to travel to and from Return’ starts on 1st July with the African
of Ghana’s independence—the first the country “without hindrance.” In 2007, Greek Week and ends on 31st July with
sub-Saharan African country to break the government initiated the Joseph the PANAFEST Emancipation Reverential
free from European colonialism. The Project, which was inspired by the story Night.
civil rights movement in the United of Joseph in the Bible, to commemorate
States was also at its height and many 200 years of the abolition of slavery and The events of the ‘Year of Return’
black American leaders at the time encourage descendants of African include a music festival; investment
conference for Diasporan Ghanaians;
felt a connection to this new black slaves to return Jamestown to Jamestown: African-
African country that had gained self- to Ghana and American business investment and
determination in a largely peaceful develop the development summit; and the ‘Right
manner. Leading civil rights leaders country. to Return’ initiative which encourages
including Martin Luther and Coretta African-Americans to have Ghanaian
Scott King, Ralph Bunche (the first Numerous citizenship. The rest are God Box – a
person of color to win the Nobel Peace African- spiritual pilgrimage; opening of One
Prize in 1950) and Mordecai Johnson Americans are Africa Walls of Remembrance Museum;
(the first African American president of happy about the Return Journey and ‘Akwaaba’
Howard University) attended Ghana’s ‘Year of return’ ceremony; Grand Durbar of Chiefs
Independence Day celebration on and expressed and Queen Mothers and Peoples of
March 6, 1957.” their joy in Africa; Inter-Faith Dialogue; Colloquium,
social media Lectures; and Post-Traumatic Stress
Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., Director of posts. Amber Disorder or Depression in the African-
the Hutchins Center for African and Walker, a Black American and Diaspora Communities
African-American Research at Harvard, American media Workshop, among others.
who first visited Ghana when he was practitioner,
says: “The “We want to use the symbolism of this
paradox year to take concrete steps to solidify
of being the relations of our kith and kin in the
an African- Americas and the Caribbean … [to]
American is that we occupy spaces strengthen the relations across the
where we are not being considered water, and build the bridge over the
as citizens. So I love the idea of Ghana Atlantic so that we could find a way of
taking the lead to kind of help African- strengthening each other in growing
Americans claim their ancestral space and empowering our economies, to play
… It is a step in the right direction. It is a more and more critical role in the new
definitely comforting.” global architecture that is being drawn
up now. We are going to have relations
Ministry of Tourism spearheading that are intimate,” President Akufo-Addo
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), intoned in Jamaica.
under the auspices of the Ministry
of Tourism, Arts and Culture, is The intimacy of the relations can only
spearheading the ‘Year of Return’ be realized after the commemoration.
project. The GTA is collaborating with the Let’s hope the ‘Year of Return’ will not
Office of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of disappoint the President and Ghanaians.
the President, PANAFEST Foundation and
The Adinkra Group of the US to see the

42 The Business Executive

The Business Executive

e d u c at i o n

Ghana Christian
University College trains
transformational leaders

By Ayuure Kapini Atafori

About 136 persons were whereas others were awarded Higher set up by Mr. Gerald A. Gibson at
admitted into the Ghana Certificates and Certificates in Pastoral Kumasi in June 1966 as Ghana Christian
Christian University College Ministries. College and Seminary, with the main
(GhanaCU) at its 10th objective of training “biblically based
Matriculation while 54 students The two ceremonies were held leadership to the future of the spiritual
graduated at its 12th Congregation under the theme: ’The Role of the and independent churches in Ghana.”
held on 23th March this year at Independent Universities in Nation-
Armahia, near Adenta on the Accra- building.’ With its motto, ‘Advancing On 29th March, 2007, the National
Dodowa Road in the Greater Accra Excellence in Transformational Accreditation Board (NAB) approved
Region. Leadership,’ GhanaCU is the best fount that Ghana Christian College and
of knowledge and skills in pastoral, Seminary should become a fully-
The matriculants were admitted to professional and academic education fledged University College. Earlier in
in Ghana. 1998, NAB authorized the institution to
study for Bachelor of Arts (BA), Higher continue awarding its own Diplomas
Delivering the welcome address, Dr. and Degrees in Theological Studies,
National Diploma (HND) and Higher (Mrs) Adelaide Kastner, Chairperson making it one of the only two to be
of the Council, traced the history of accredited provisionally.
Certificate. Some of the graduands GhanaCU to the present. Dr. (Mrs.)
Kastner stated that the institution was
received BA in Development

Management (Public Health,

Accounting and Human Resource

Management options) and in Theology;

44 The Business Executive

e d u c at i o n

programmes. Also, Management, Marketing, Journalism
and Media Studies, Oil and Gas,
negotiations have Accounting and Computer &
Information Processing.
advanced for the
The departments are headed by
establishment of competent, scholarly, experienced
and highly-motivated Faculty
Degree and HND (lecturers and instructors/tutors) who
teach, undertake research and
programmes for the mentor students. The Faculty has
professional expertise and apply
School of Science teaching and research methods
such as discussions, presentations,
and Technology. internship field trips and assignments.
GhanaCU has extensive laboratory
The School of space where experts from disparate
disciplines work by using innovative
Development technologies to address important
issues in science, art conservation,
Management health, energy, and the environment.
Some facilities include Digital
has departments Media Facilities, Visual Resources
Collection, Fabrication Shops and
for Business Library. GhanaCU has lectures
series, exhibitions, publications and
Rev. Dr. James Yamoah, Vice-President of GhanaUC Management, design workshops.

Development

GhanaCU affiliated with University of Studies and Allied

Wales in the United Kingdom (UK) in Health Sciences which offer BA

2013 to validate its BA in Theology, Development with six options,

BA in Community Development namely, Accounting, Human

and Master of arts (MA) in Christian Resource Management, Public

Organizational Leadership. Since Health, NGO Management,

2013/2014 academic year, the Marketing and Micro-Finance.

University College is being validated New programmes that have

by University for Development received accreditation from NAB

Studies (UDS) for Development and approval from UDS include

Management (including Nursing), Bachelor of Science (BSc) with

and by Akrofi-Christaller Institute specializations in Accounting,

(ACI) for Theology. GhanaCU’s Marketing, Public Health, Human

affiliation with South African Resource Management, Banking

Theology Seminary has also and Finance and Health Information

enabled it to validate the Theology Management. The following

programme. HND programmes have been

approved by NABPTEX for NAB

GhanaCU has the mandate to accredit: Health Information

to run professional courses on Management and Secretaryship

tutorial basis for the Diplomas and and Management.

Graduate Diplomas of the Institute

of Commercial Management The School of Science and

(ICM, UK); Association of Business Technology has Nursing, Information

Executives (ABE), UK; Institute Technology and Systems, Green

for Professional and Executive Energy Engineering and Geo-

Development (IPED), UK; and for Informatics departments where

various levels of the Institute of BSc and Diploma are awarded

Chartered Accountants, Ghana to deserving students. UDS and

(ICAG). University of Professional Studies

(UPSA) mentor the Nursing

GhanaCU is currently arranging and Information Technology

with the National Board for programmes respectively.

Professional and Technical

Examinations (NABPTEX) and the The foundational Seminary was

Technical Education Unit of the turned into the School of Theology,

Ghana Education Service to obtain with its three departments, namely

authorization to run courses for Higher Biblical Studies and Systematic

National Diploma and Diploma Theology, Practical Theology and

in Business Studies respectively. In Missiology. They award Certificates,

addition, the institution has been Diplomas and Degrees.

holding discussions with the Council

for Technical and Vocational The School of Professional Studies

Education and Training (COTVET) (Tutorials) runs programmes at the

Secretariat to be empowered Certificate, Diploma, Advanced

to introduce Levels 100 – 500 Diploma and Graduate Diploma

COTVET Certificate and Diploma levels in Human Resource

The Business Executive 45

DI P LO M AC Y

Ghana-China relations deepening
for mutual benefits

China`s rise to economic prominence Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey, who is also a Member Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey noted that debt
and dominance as a result of its of Parliament (MP), told the government of sustainability was one of the key economic
rapid and consistent economic China that Ghana is making good progress policy objectives being pursued by the
growth, its position as the second with the utilization of the US$3 billion China Government under its ‘Ghana Beyond
largest economy in the world, its huge Development Bank (CDB) loan. She briefed Aid’ agenda, adding that the country was
population, market size and vast accumulation the Chinese government about how the continuously working to reduce its debts to
of foreign exchange reserve over a decade loan facility was being utilized when she held Gross Domestic Product ratio to appreciable
has made the Asian dragon more attractive bilateral talks with her Chinese counterpart, level.
for bilateral economic, diplomatic and cultural Wang Yi. Both Foreign Ministers emphasized the “Ghana-China trade relations have grown
relations between it and African countries, importance of strengthening Ghana- China’s from strength to strength over the years. China
including Ghana. bilateral relations. was the leading investor in Ghana in 2017,
with about 752 investment projects registered.
Since the assumption of office by the New She told Chinese Foreign Minister Yi that out In addition, the total value of trade between
Patriotic Party (NPP) government, led by Ghana and China reached a record US$7
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, of the loan, US$1 billion has been utilized billion at the end of 2017.
efforts have been made to deepen further
the already cordial relations existing between to complete the Western Corridor Gas Largest Chinese trade partner
Ghana and the People’s Republic of China
by both the friendly West African and Asian Infrastructure Project and the Integrated Ghana is ranked the seventh largest Chinese
countries. trade partner in Africa. It is worth noting that
National Security Communications the balance of trade is skewed towards
China. However, policies and efforts are being
Enhancement Project. tailored to address the imbalance,” she stated
in an earlier interview this year.
Incidentally or coincidentally, Ghana and She said Ghana intended to use US$1 billion
China each have their names five-lettered. of the facility for two major railway projects. Hon. Ayorkor Botchwey , Minister for Foreign Affairs
China’s strategic partnership with the She said the Minister for Finance will deal with
Ghanaian government is geared towards the details in an encounter with his Chinese
enhancing the provision of infrastructure, counterpart. According to her, the Finance
job creation and promotion of holistic socio- Minister will also seek his Chinese counterpart’s
economic development. support for the two projects which are critical
to the opening up of the untapped areas of
Ghana’s economy.

The good relations between Ghana and The Foreign Minister said the government has
established the Ghana Integrated Aluminum
China are evidenced by several high-level Development Corporation to develop the
aluminum industry which is seeking partners to
visits of leaders and other top officials from build an aluminum refinery, the proceeds of
which will be used to service the loan facility.
both countries. Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, She recalled that Ghana and China have
signed two subsidiary agreements to construct
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional about 11 fishing harbors and landing sites and
the Accra Metropolitan Area Intelligence
Integration, reiterated the warm path Sino- Traffic Management Projects.

Ghana relations have taken under the able

leaderships of President Akufo-Addo and

Chinese President Xi Jinping at talks held on

the sidelines of the Forum for China-Africa

Cooperation (FOCAC) Coordinators’

meeting which took place in China in July 2019.

46 The Business Executive