Guzakuza, a social enterprise, has launched the 3rd edition of its African Women in Agribusiness Awards as part of the Women in Agribusiness Week (WAW) celebration.
Themed ‘Celebrating women blazing the African agribusiness trail’, the awards seek to recognise, reward and celebrate women in agribusinesses. The event will celebrate African women in agribusiness and empower them to play active roles in the sector. It also aims at bringing together communities to acknowledge the achievements of remarkable women who have overcome challenges and made significant impacts in African agribusiness.
Nominations are open from now until August 14, 2023. The awards ceremony will be held on November 18, 2023.
This year’s African Women in Agribusiness Awards comprise 21 categories as against 35 last year, and is open to women from three different regions within Ghana. These include the Ashanti, Greater Accra and Northern Regions.
Speaking to B&FT, Project Lead for Guzakuza, Fortune Kyei, noted that most women in some industries or spaces are not allowed to contribute their quota or portray abilities for development due to gender inequality; therefore this event aims to bring women to the public eye.
“Looking at the agribusiness space, and even in all other industries, you realise that women are always sidelined when it comes to issues concerning the economy. So, we really want to bring women into the limelight for everyone to know that there are women who are doing exceptionally well. It is limited to women because women need to be brought into the limelight for us to learn the exceptional things that they are doing in their small corners.”
Ms. Kyei called on all Ghanaians to rally behind Guzakuza through long-lasting partnership to create a more inclusive, diverse and thriving industry.
On his part, the Programmes and Finance Coordinator for Guzakuza, Stephen Ansah, stated that the first edition’s launch saw a little over 50 people register for the various categories; meanwhile over 1,000 people registered for the second edition, and thus they are likely to have over 2,000 people register this year.
“In the first edition, we had less than 100 entries. The second edition we had more than 1,000 entries. So, the first one was an eye-opener whereby people realised that they can be recognised for what they are doing. The second one, we had a lot more people jumping on; and I can bet we are likely to get more than 2,000 entries this year. So, it tells you that the little whoever is doing in their little corner, they want to be recognised because with recognition comes marketing, comes sales, comes all the other things.
“We are getting features across 400 media platforms, which is a big deal. If you are somewhere in Kenya, somewhere in Malawi, somewhere in Zimbabwe and then what you are doing is featured in 400 Plus platforms, then it’s a great achievement – and it’s not limited to Ghana, it’s areas across Africa.
“Aside from that, there will be certificates. Then the topmost award – which goes to the African Agribusiness Woman of the Year – will come along with a return-ticket to the UK. Also, we are looking at adding an industry tour to one of our partners in the UK,” he added
