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Accelerating Action for Gender Equality: The 7th National Women’s Summit & Expo
The National Women’s Summit & Expo has always been a highlight for those who believe in the power of women.
Over the years, this event has brought together a stellar group of women from diverse sectors — from Public, Corporate, Business, Creative Arts to the Youth and beyond.
The 7th edition, happening on March 7, 2025, at the Grand Arena, promises to continue this proud tradition.
Organized by Charterhouse, the summit will feature a carefully curated lineup of trailblazing women ready to steer vital conversations and actions in the pursuit of gender equality.
This year’s theme is “Accelerate Action”, with powerhouse women who will be driving these important conversations.
Mrs. Ghartey will set the tone for the summit by speaking on the importance of intentional and proactive leadership in advancing gender equality.
Her personal journey and insights will encourage women in leadership roles to take action and drive the changes needed in both the corporate and public sectors.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, Commonwealth Secretary-General, will join to share her vision for a more inclusive and equitable world.
Following this, a distinguished group of women will tackle the global theme of International Women’s Day: Accelerate Action: Overcoming Barriers for Women in Corporate and Public Sectors.
These esteemed panelists will explore the challenges women face in these fields, the power of affirmative action, and the steps we can take to level the playing field for all.
– Sheila Minkah-Premo – Convenor of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition
– Janet Sunkwa-Mills – CEO – Jane’M Salon & Spa /Chairperson of the Executive Women Network Excomm
– Maidie Elizabeth Arkutu – Former Unilever CEO & VP for West Africa, now Senior Business Leadership & Training Consultant
– H.E Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland – Barbados High Commissioner to Ghana.
Their combined expertise promises a powerful discussion on how women in both the corporate and public sectors can overcome barriers, amplify their voices, and break through glass ceilings.
Panel 2: Women in Business & Entrepreneurship (SMEs) – Scaling New Heights
In a world where women entrepreneurs are making waves, this panel will showcase inspiring women who have not only built businesses but have scaled them to new heights.
The panelists will delve into their experiences of navigating challenges, securing funding, and growing successful businesses.
– Amma Gyampo – CEO, Ghana Venture Capital and Private Equity Association
– Angela Mensah-Poku – Chief Enterprise Business Officer – MTN
– Felicia Twumasi – CEO, Ghana Home Foods
– Deloris Frimpong-Manso (Delay) – CEO, Delay Foods / Media Personality
Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku – CEO of April Communications/Media Personality.
These trailblazers will discuss what it takes to thrive in the world of business and offer valuable insights into the unique challenges women face in entrepreneurship and the benefits of digital transformation of business.
Youth Leadership: Empowering the Next Generation
The future is female, and it’s clear that the next generation of young women leaders are ready to rise.
This session focuses on how we can Accelerate Action to support young women in leadership, with a special focus on making the Affirmative Law a reality Panelists for this discussion include:
– Barbara Nti Nkansah – First Female Local NUGS President, UCC Chapter
– Ohenewaa Constance Ankoma – Founder, Erudite Women’s Empowerment Foundation, She Leads Implementing Partner.
Women in Agribusiness: From Farm to Table Agriculture is not just the backbone of Ghana’s economy, but also an industry where women are making tremendous strides.
At the Gastro Feastival Launch, women in agribusiness will explore everything from production to processing, distribution, and consumption.
This interactive panel promises to showcase the diverse roles women play in transforming the agricultural landscape.
The 7th National Women’s Summit & Expo is a Charterhouse production and brought to you by Geisha and MTN in partnership with Frytol, Total Energies, Bayport, Enterprise Life and JOY FM.
ODORGONNO Senior High School (SHS) has won the maiden 2026 Senior High School Plastic Waste Reuse Innovation Awards, organised among five SHSs in Accra to promote plastic waste recycling and reuse.
Odorgonno SHS received a cash prize of GH¢8,000 after securing 97 points. Accra Senior High School placed second with 96 points and received GH¢4,000, while O’Reilly SHS placed third with 90 points and received GH¢2,000.
Forces Senior High Technical School placed fourth with 83 points, while St John’s Grammar SHS came fifth with 72 points. Both schools received GH¢1,000 each as cash prizes.
Outstanding students from the participating school clubs were also recognised with gold medals and certificates. St John’s Grammar SHS received five plastic recovery cages as the school with the highest volume of recovered plastic waste.
The awards formed part of the CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) Schools Plastics Recovery Project, an initiative aimed at promoting plastic waste recovery, responsible environmental practices and the productive use of recovered materials.
The project included educational campaigns in all five participating schools, the provision of metal cages for plastic source segregation, an educational excursion to a Miniplast recycling factory and a plastics challenge that encouraged innovative reuse of plastic waste.
The Project Lead and Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-IIR, Dr Boniface Yeboah Antwi, said the project demonstrated how young people could become active contributors to solving Ghana’s environmental challenges while providing financial incentives to sustain their efforts.
He said when schools generated income from recovered materials, they could support the maintenance of collection infrastructure, reinforce responsible waste management and instil an entrepreneurial mindset in students.
Dr Antwi explained that within the first month, the participating schools recovered 1.5 tonnes, or 1,500 kilogrammes, of plastic waste—equivalent to the weight of approximately 15,000 one-litre water bottles.
He said the recovery generated GH¢2,000 in revenue for the schools, demonstrating that plastic waste could become a source of value rather than an environmental burden.
The Group Head of General Operations at OmniBSIC Bank, Mr Dominic Donkoh, urged the participating schools to sustain their plastic waste segregation, collection and sales activities.
He said the proceeds could support school environmental clubs and other worthwhile initiatives while providing students with practical lessons in saving, budgeting and responsible financial management.
“We encourage students to apply the financial literacy lessons acquired during this engagement. Learn to manage the proceeds from your recycling activities responsibly, appreciate the importance of saving, and explore innovative ways to create both environmental and financial value,” he added.
–GNA
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Parents have been urged to prioritise girls’ education over early marriage to protect them from losing their childhood, education and opportunities for a better future.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Girl Child Coordinator, Madam Margaret Blay, said child marriage disrupted girls’ education, threatened their health and well-being, and limited their ability to realise their full potential.
“Keep her in school, not in a man’s house,” she urged parents, stressing the need for families and communities to protect girls’ right to education and personal development.
She made the call in a welcome address at the 2026 celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, held under the theme: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
Madam Blay said ending child marriage required collective action from parents, teachers, traditional leaders, government institutions and communities to ensure that girls were protected and given the opportunity to pursue their aspirations.
She noted that child marriage often forced girls out of school before they were physically, emotionally and socially prepared for the responsibilities associated with marriage.
She said investing in girls’ rights was not merely a moral obligation but also an investment in the future of communities and the nation.
According to her, girls who remained in school, had their voices heard and received the necessary support could grow into leaders, professionals, innovators and active contributors to national development.
Madam Blay called on teachers to protect girls’ access to education, create supportive learning environments and empower them to express themselves confidently.
She also appealed to traditional leaders to help address harmful cultural practices and social norms that denied girls opportunities to develop their potential.
The government and relevant institutions, she said, must strengthen the enforcement of child protection laws to ensure that every girl received adequate protection.
She further urged communities to speak out against child marriage, report cases and work together to create safe environments where girls could learn, grow and thrive.
Madam Blay said every girl deserved the freedom to dream, acquire an education and determine her own future.
She expressed the hope that the celebration would strengthen stakeholders’ collective resolve to end child marriage and invest in the rights, education and future of every girl.
Madam Karen Ama Moses, Assembly Member for the Takoradi Railway and Harbour Electoral Area, said keeping girls in school would lead to enlightened mothers, well-informed families, resilient communities and, ultimately, a better Ghana.
She stressed that no child should be forced into marriage, adding that “every child must have the freedom to learn, grow, dream and choose her future.”
Some of the schoolchildren expressed concern that their parents did not always listen to their concerns during difficult times, while others said some children were exposed to abuse and early marriage.
Madam Henrietta Quabu, the Metropolitan School Health Coordinator, urged children experiencing abuse or any situation that threatened their well-being to report to the police, the Department of Social Welfare, the media, their teachers or the Metropolitan Education Directorate for assistance.
— GNA
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