The maiden edition of the Instinct Women Awards (IWA) brought together and honoured women moving and shaking industries across various sectors in Ghana and beyond, with exceptional leadership and entrepreneurial expertise last Friday.
Organized by Africa’s premium B2B events management organization, InstinctWave, IWA rewarded exceptional women of value and impact in various sectors and industries; to increase Gender Inclusiveness, visibility on women who are positively impacting lives, rewriting the narrative and changing stereotypes
The night saw most of the excellent and outstanding women receive awards for their excellent contribution in the field of Agriculture, Education, Health, Fashion, Technology among others.
The Chief Executive Officer of Instinct Waves, Akin Naphtali sharing the reasons behind awarding the women in the various sectors of the economy said” at Instinct Waves we believe in empowering women that are doing well across all sectors both the formal and informal and that is what we have done”.
He added that Instinct waves do not believe in only rewarding the corporate people since successful women over the years have not come from only the corporate world. Rather, putting the contribution of each on a scale will provide a clear indication of how women in the informal sector contribute positively.
Mr. Akin Naphtali stressing on the future plans for the Instinct Women Awards said, measures are underway to increase the numbers of awardees as years go by and also stretch across Africa and not only Ghana.
He further stated that most of the women contributing greatly to the country’s economy are women yet they are mostly undervalued, hence, organising the awards to also serve as motivation and as well bring them to the limelight.
About the awards
The ceremony brought together some key women contributing both on and off the scene as they were honoured for their commitment.
Excellence in Promoting & Developing Women Leaders award was grabbed by MTN Ghana. Outstanding Organisation in Women Related Products went for Mansuki Ghana Limited while Best Organisation in Women Products was badged by Ghandour Cosmetics.
Gender Oriented Company of the Year was awarded to Vodafone Ghana, Excellence in Promoting & Developing Women Leaders went for Jospong Group, Instinct Women Rising Star in Beauty & Cosmetology Award was taken by Hajia Jamila Seeta, CEO of Seera Beauty Clinic & Jamila Home, Instinct Women Rising Star Award in Event Services went to Abigail Mensah Amoah, Operations Director, Zylofon Group.
Rising Woman in Hospitality was Martekor Quaye GM, Alisa Hotels Tema, Rising Woman in Event Management was grabbed by Carol Opata Hogan Country Manager, InstinctWave, Exceptional Woman in Fashion Business Award was Joyce Ababio, CEO Joyce Ababio College of Creative Design, Exceptional Woman in Cosmetology & Beauty was Grace Ameh-Obeng Founder, FC Beauty Group.
Exceptional Woman in Sports Award was Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoe, Coach- Black Queens, Exceptional woman in Credit Industry was Mrs. Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, CEO of Credit Registry Corporation, Exceptional Woman in Entrepreneurship (informal sector) Mrs. Adetoun Peregrino Brimah, CEO of Princebrim Enterprise.
Exceptional Woman in Leadership and Entrepreneurship Award went to Bebe Clement Founder, Black Businesses in UK, Exceptional Woman in Real Estate was Udokanma Maryanne Okonjo, CEO/Vice Chairman of Fine and Country West Africa, Excellence Woman in Finance went to Reine Larbi-Tieku, Chief Financial Officer of American Tower Ghana
The Exceptional Woman in Human Relations was Dr. Hazel Berrard Amuah, CEO, People Factory Ltd. The Exceptional Woman in Human Relations award went to Amma Benneh-Amponsah, Chief Human Resources Officer, MTN Ghana.
Exceptional Woman in Insurance was Boatemaa Barfour-Awuah, Executive Director, Star Assurance, Exceptional Woman in Agriculture went to Catherine Krobo-Edusei, CEO of Eden Tree, Exceptional Woman in Human Relations was received by Hannah Ashiokai Akrong, Director of Human Resource, Vodafone Ghana, Exceptional Woman in Academia was Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann- Quiz Mistress NSMQ / Senior Lecturer University of Ghana
The Exceptional Woman in Customer Service award went to Jemima kotey-Walsh, Chief Customer Relations Officer MTN Ghana, Outstanding Women in Telecom Enterprise was Tawa Bolarin, Director, Enterprise Business Unit and Wholesale.
The Exceptional Woman in Public Service Award went to Dr. Irene Stella Agyenim-Boateng, Deputy Chief Executive (Services) Volta River Authority, Exceptional Woman in Technology was received by Yvette Adounvo Atekpe, MD- Dimension Data Ghana. Instinct Women Lifetime Achievement Award went to Rev. Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee- Founder & Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries.
