By Chris KONEY
A sustainable future depends on inclusion for all, be it in villages or cities, on the farms or in the boardrooms. For that purpose, it is essential to embrace different perspectives and facilitate participation from everyone.
As a people, it has become very important to enable access to education, information, employment and leadership roles for women, which plays a key role in transforming communities globally.
On Friday, March 7, 2025, I collaborated with the Embassy of Denmark in Ghana and Impact Wave Initiative, a women’s community-driven non-profit organiation that assists the empowerment of young women, to host the second edition of the Women Empowerment Series at the Embassy of Denmark in Accra.
The event was in commemoration of this year’s edition of the International Women’s Day celebration, an annual celebration that serves as a focal point in the women’s rights movement, and focuses on issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights as well as violence and abuse against women.
The event is a platform to discuss pragmatic approaches on the elevation of women in their personal and professional careers. Highlights of the event include stories of successful women, speed mentorship, discussion on practical solutions to challenges women face, break-out sessions and networking.
Under the theme ‘Inspiring Inclusion: Elevating Women for a Sustainable Future’, the event brought together distinguished women leaders, professionals, students and young entrepreneurs and change-makers to discuss practical approaches to advancing women’s personal and professional growth.
The resource persons (the mentors) for the event were Linda Yaa Ampah, the Founder and CEO of Cadling Fashions and KAD Manufacturing Limited, a fashion house and manufacturing company; Ann Selorm Fesu, Manager Go-to-Market & Segments at the MTN Group Digital; and Efua Adabie, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) educator and consultant.
In his welcoming address, the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Tom Noring, highlighted the embassy’s commitment to promoting gender equality and empowering women, for which they decided to support such an event which offers mentorship opportunities and insightful discussions on success stories, overcoming challenges and fostering leadership.
This Women Empowerment Series aligns with the embassy’s broader efforts to support women’s empowerment, economic inclusion and leadership development in Ghana.
The Danish Government remains a strong advocate for gender equality and inclusive growth, fostering partnerships that advance opportunities for women in all spheres of society.
As a curator of an innovative event to find solutions to challenges young women face and the burden of closing the generational gap among women, it has become necessary for the acceleration in the implementation of policies that seek to provide an equal playing field for women and also lead to the elevation of women through various forms of capacity building and skill development.
As we worked on this event to mark the 2025 International Women’s Day, our reflection on the journey toward gender equality revealed a complex tapestry of progress and persistent challenges. Centred on amplifying women’s voices globally, hosting the Women Empowerment Series has driven the team to better appreciate the importance of localised solutions that cater for the diverse realities women face. This approach is crucial for fostering genuine understanding and impactful actions, and it serves as a testament to the resilience and potential of women globally
>>>Chris is a thought leader in Marketing Communications, Stakeholder Relationship Management Professional and International Cooperation Specialist. Over the last fifteen (15) years, he has made tremendous impact within Africa’s corporate communications and creative arts sectors. He can be reached at [email protected] / +233 20 854 1480
