Founder of the Women’s Leadership Development Institute (WLDI), Mrs Patience Antonio, has called for more deliberate investment in women’s leadership training, stressing that sustainable national development begins with the empowerment of women at all social levels.

Speaking to The Spectator in Accra, Mrs Antonio said her organisation was established to train women to understand their value, develop leadership skills, and transform their families and communities.

She explained that the Institute’s approach is built around a structured three-level training model, designed to reach women from diverse backgrounds, including professionals and entrepreneurs to market women and young girls.

“We can’t continue to speak about women’s empowerment without protecting and supporting them. Many women are struggling silently, and the best way to help is to strengthen their capacity and give them the tools to rebuild their lives,” she said.

According to her, the first level of training focuses on professional and career women — those already occupying leadership or administrative roles but seeking personal growth and leadership refinement.

Mrs Antonio said WLDI provides mentorship and strategic development programmes to help them balance work and family life while influencing policy and organisational culture.

The second level, she explained, targets women in business and entrepreneurship, including small and medium-scale business owners, traders, and artisans.

“We want to highlight women who are already leading their own businesses. These women contribute significantly to the economy, and with proper guidance, they can build stronger enterprises and empower others,” she said.

However, Mrs Antonio emphasised that the third and most critical level focuses on grassroots women, particularly those working in markets and informal sectors.

She described this group as “the backbone of the economy,” yet also the most vulnerable, saying,

“From our analysis, many of the social problems we face today originate from this group.”

“Some of these women struggle to care for their children, leading to issues like streetism and broken families, while others fall into repeated unhealthy relationships because they lack support and self-awareness,” she stated.

She mentioned that through training in financial literacy, health education, and self-leadership, WLDI seeks to help these women make better decisions for their lives and families.

She added that the Institute also engages them in discussions on sanitation and public health, particularly in market environments, to improve hygiene and food safety.

By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu

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