Her fascination with the content of her grandmother’s standing wardrobe drove her into a career in investment banking, and her curiosity grew each time she went through the stories of each item displayed. Her first lessons in wealth creation and giving generously was instilled by “this remarkable woman”, to quote Ms. Abena Amoah.
This woman had singlehandedly looked after her children and a lot of others through her own efforts. This, in her opinion, aligned with Rotary’s motto of ‘Service Above Self’. This was a story that kept everyone in the room captivated and yearning to hear more at the Major Donor and Paul Harris Society Ball, held at the Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra, on Saturday 12th November 2022 by Rotary International District 9102.
This maiden event had Ms. Abena Amoah, CEO-Ghana Stock Exchange, as Special Guest Speaker, and was aimed at celebrating Rotarians who have contributed to the good work of the Rotary Foundation and also encouraging others to join the worthy cause.
Not new to Rotary, Ms. Amoah certainly felt at home as she delivered the keynote address. She has many friends in the organisation and has been a speaker at a number of Rotary clubs; and interestingly, her father had worked at Texaco Ghana Ltd. with Dan Michael Quist – who introduced Rotary into Ghana in 1958.
In her address, Ms. Amoah spoke about the thirty-two year old Ghana Stock Exchange – where she is the first female Managing Director, just like Rotary International’s first female president, Jennifer Jones. Set up to facilitate long-term capital and provide a platform for individuals and institutions to trade securities, the institution has celebrated some successes in establishing different markets to satisfy various sized companies or growing the equities market; and has returned an average of 25% profits annually to investors since 1990, with its processes being automated since 2009. The Ghana Stock Exchange has won a number of awards over the years.
With the task of getting more companies to list on the bourse and improve liquidity and returns for investors, Ms. Amoah equated the Ghana Stock Exchange with the core principles of Rotary – Integrity, Diversity, Service, Leadership and Fellowship/Friendship. These ideals, in her opinion, foster sustainable wealth creation; a key requirement for the improvement of lives. The lives of underprivileged people, especially those of children, can be unbearable.
The last twelve years have been an eye-opener for her in this regard, as she personally travelled the journey of first-hand experience by managing a rare condition for someone close to her; and this has increased her desire to work more on charity causes and sponsor difficult life-changing projects – the reason she supports many organisations in various forms, using her network.
“We hold the solutions for many of our social challenges,” she stated while highlighting her drive and passion to enhance investment literacy, which is important in creating the wealth needed to assist our communities.
Concluding her address, she quoted: “Happiness is not about what we possess, but rather what we give. The gifts God has given us are not meant only to bring us satisfaction, but rather to be a blessing to others. When we share what God has given us and seek to bring Him glory, we are fulfilling His purpose for our lives; and this produces true happiness”, and urged everyone to grow in true happiness.
As the evening of celebration drew close to an end, Sir Sam Jonah – the Guest of Honour – spoke a few words of encouragement to the cause and pledged his support to the Rotary Foundation.
The Rotary Foundation is the non-profit organisation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational and cultural exchange programmes. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions, which allows Rotarians to become Major Donors and/or members of the Paul Harris Society. A Major Donor has cumulatively donated ten thousand dollars to the Rotary Foundation, while a Paul Harris Society member donates one thousand dollars to the Rotary Foundation annually.
Recognised as one of the most effective and well-managed charitable organisations in the world, the Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace by improving health; providing quality education; improving the environment; and alleviating poverty.
Rotary International is the world’s first association of service clubs, with about 1.4 million members in over 42,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary Club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace and pursue worthwhile social causes, and are lead-partners in such worldwide activities as the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
