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Don’t fall for social pressure – Ms Karikari advises women
The Chief Executive Officer of Glory Gate Capital Limited, Mrs. Francisca Nyamekye Karikari, has advised women not to fall for the social pressure of marriage and child birth.
She said getting married and having children should not be the only ambition of women and that a woman was still “complete whether she is married or not.”
Speaking at the second edition of the Women Connect Conference (WCC) in Accra last Saturday, she charged women to remain ambitious and committed to goals in all aspects of life.
The forum themed: “Women on the Go: Staying Mentally Healthy as You Juggle Everyday,” sought to build the capacity of women and broaden the conversation on mental health.
Mrs. Karikari, speaking on the subject: “The realities about being a woman with ambition and its related mental health challenges,” she noted that failure was eminent in the bid to attain excellence but that should not be an excuse for aiming higher.
“Don’t evaluate yourself based on the achievement of others, you are unique. You just need to define your success parameters and stay focused. Work hard even if you are not appreciated. Even if nobody sees it, you are building your own skills,” she said.
Highlighting the need to avoid procrastination, she said women aiming to thrive in male domination professions must be flexible while believing their own abilities.
“Surround yourself with ambitious people who would tell you things that would build you up. Don’t present yourself as a superwoman because you are not, find help when you need it,” she added.
Mrs. Abena Biney, Audit Partner and Consumer Business Leader, Deloitte Ghana also speaking on joggling workload with personal life, emphasised the need to prioritise tasks, set personal boundaries, and build support groups at work.
“When you continue to put yourself under unnecessary pressure that is when you begin to build stress and anxiety,” she said.
Ms. Emiley Mensah, Project Head, WCC, said the forum was to educate women on the need for self-care as they went about daily routines which were likely to affect their mental and physical well-being.
“Society has created an expectation for women and the challenge is that women often do this at the expense of their mental health. That, however, does not mean you should go through your struggles silently,” she said.
The forum brought together hundreds of women from diverse backgrounds, including the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Kati Csaba, and Ambassador Nancy Quartey Sam, Chief Executive Officer of Staple Travel and Tour, who was honoured with a citation.
By Ernest Nutsugah
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
