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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
The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) says it generated US$1.011 billion in foreign exchange from its artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) gold trade operations in October 2026.
According to the GoldBod, the entire amount was sold to authorised commercial banks through its GoldBod GoFX platform to support stability in the foreign exchange market.
In an announcement issued on Monday, November 2, the Board projected to generate US$1.2 billion in foreign exchange from its ASM gold trade operations in November.
It added that US$800 million of the projected amount would be made available to commercial banks to support foreign exchange market stability.
GoldBod said the sales would be conducted through its GoFX platform in line with the approved FX Sales and Intermediation Framework to ensure transparency, fairness and regulatory compliance.
The Board reaffirmed its commitment to generating foreign exchange for the country and supporting the Bank of Ghana’s foreign reserve accumulation under the Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Policy (GANRAP).
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has opened applications for members interested in contesting as its parliamentary candidates in the 2028 general elections.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the party said interested members must declare their intention to contest between Sunday, November 1, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the party’s Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, prospective candidates must complete an online form within the specified period.
The party said a non-refundable application fee of GH¢5,000 would be charged to each prospective candidate.
It added that all applicants would undergo vetting and screening to determine their eligibility to contest on the party’s ticket.
The NPP announced plans to organise capacity-building workshops for prospective candidates in December 2026. The workshops will be held across the Northern, Middle and Southern zones, with details of the venues to be announced later.
The party stressed that the guidelines would apply to all prospective candidates, including sitting NPP Members of Parliament who wish to contest again.
It further warned aspirants against starting campaign activities following the opening of the application process.
According to the statement, the existing directive prohibiting campaign activities remains in force until the party gives official clearance.
It cautioned that anyone who violates the directive would face appropriate sanctions under the party’s constitution and regulations.
The NPP said the process was designed to promote fairness, transparency and equal opportunities for all aspirants as it prepares to select candidates for all 276 constituencies ahead of the 2028 elections.
It urged prospective candidates to follow the guidelines and conduct themselves with discipline and respect for one another throughout the process.
The party said its broader objective was to strengthen unity within its ranks and rebuild public confidence ahead of the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
