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L’aine Academy equips women with leadership skills to enhance their performance
L’aine Academy has held a two-day conference on Strategic Women in Leadership Masterclass on the theme “Equipping women to lead, Influence, and innovate for a sustainable Africa.”
The high-level programme is designed for women in leadership, succession planning, strategy, corporate governance and business development roles.
It seeks to empower senior leaders, entrepreneurs, directors, and rising female executives across industries to engage in transformational learning, mentorship, and equip them with the tools and insights needed to excel in a fast-changing, digitally transformed world.
Topics discussed were Executive presence and Influence for women, AI, digital disruption and innovation in leadership, adaptive leadership in times of change, and corporate governance and ethical leadership.
Dr Mrs Ellen Hagan, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of L’aine HR, urged women in corporate organisations not to shy away from leadership positions.
She said women should also aspire for boardroom positions to influence decision-making in their respective organisations.
Dr Hagan further encouraged women to support each other to influence the development of the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of L’aine HR, stressed the need for women in leadership positions to mentor the young women in their respective organisations to also rise higher the organizational ladder.
“Leadership is not about position. It is about how you lift others up and groom them to grow in whatever position they occupy to rise higher to achieve their goals and dreams,” Dr Hagan stated.
She entreated women acquire technology skills to remain relevant in the Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven world.
She said although AI was influencing how organisations operated, women would continue to stay valuable in their respective fields if they constantly sharpened their competencies and applied their human-centered skills.
“We need to sharpen our skills and do what we are supposed to do as humans. Do it better. And have that awareness that we cannot really compete in the same way with the robots. But in the area where we have the upper hand, we need to…”
The Managing Director of L’aine HR, Mr James Laar, said the programme formed part of the Academy’s broader agenda of giving back to society and championing women’s empowerment through leadership development.
He said the Masterclass was part of L’aine Academy’s agenda to build the leadership capacity of women and help them to appreciate that leadership was not optional.
BY TIMES REPORTER
The Ghana National Gas Company has denied allegations of wrongdoing in its recent procurement and insurance contract renewals.
In a press statement issued in Accra on April 13, 2026, the company explained that concerns raised in some media reports were linked to a change in its lead insurer.
It noted that the change followed the expiration of previous insurance contracts at the end of the year.
The company stressed that the new insurance arrangements are lawful and form part of efforts to improve its risk management system to protect its assets.
It further indicated that all contracts awarded so far have gone through the required approval processes by the Public Procurement Authority after receiving financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance.
The statement, signed by the Head of Corporate Affairs, Richard Ernest Kirk-Mensah, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
It added that management remains focused on delivering gas efficiently to meet the country’s energy needs while continuing to strengthen internal systems to ensure good corporate governance and compliance.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana has clarified that it now supports the implementation of the Publican Artificial Intelligence system at the country’s ports, following earlier concerns raised in 2025.
In a press statement issued on April 9, the Association explained that claims suggesting it still opposes the system are misleading and based on outdated information from a December 18, 2025 media publication.
It noted that its earlier concerns were legitimate, pointing to a lack of stakeholder consultation, as well as issues related to data security, transparency, and system integration.
At the time, it called for broader engagement to ensure the system would be credible and beneficial to all stakeholders.
According to the statement, the Government of Ghana, through the Finance Ministry and the Ghana Revenue Authority, has since engaged industry players, including the Association, to address those concerns.
The Association described the engagements as constructive, indicating that they helped resolve key issues and showed government’s commitment to improving the system’s implementation.
As a result, it affirmed its support for the Publican AI system, which has already been rolled out at the ports.
The Association acknowledged that the system is facing some operational challenges but noted that such difficulties are common with major technological reforms.
It added that authorities are taking steps to resolve the issues.
It highlighted the potential benefits of the system, including improved revenue mobilisation, increased transparency, reduced revenue leakages, and a decline in unethical practices at the ports.
The statement cautioned the public against attempts by some individuals and groups to misrepresent its position, stressing that such actions undermine national progress.
It further emphasised that it will not allow itself to be used for propaganda or agendas that do not serve the interests of importers, exporters, and the wider economy.
The Executive Secretary of the Association, Samson Asaki Awingobit, signed the statement, reaffirming the group’s commitment to supporting reforms that improve efficiency at the ports and promote a fair trading environment.
By: Jacob Aggrey
