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National Women’s Summit & Expo celebrates another milestone
On March 7, 2025, the Grand Arena played host to an extraordinary celebration, as women from all walks of life came together to make history at the 7th National Women’s Summit & Expo.
Held at the iconic Grand Arena, this event reaffirmed its position as Ghana’s leading conference for women in celebration of International Women’s Day.
The National Women’s Summit, an annual affair has become a cornerstone of Ghana’s commitment to gender equality. What started as a modest initiative six years ago, courtesy of Charterhouse, has blossomed into an awe-inspiring gathering where women come together to share, mentor, and inspire.
Mrs. Theresa Oparebea Ayoade, the CEO of Charterhouse and convener of the summit, could barely contain her joy as she welcomed a diverse crowd that included teens, seasoned professionals, high-flying executives, and esteemed queen mothers.
This wasn’t just another conference; it was a powerful, intergenerational celebration of women rising, thriving, and championing each other.
As Mrs. Ayoade passionately shared her journey, the room was reminded that no woman rises alone—and that mentorship, networking, and self-discovery are keys to unlocking untapped potential.
“Let’s not just talk about gender equality; let’s accelerate action” she charged them.
Her words ignited a collective sense of purpose, adding that the time to act is now, and everyone—be it young women, business moguls, or policymakers have a role to play.
And speaking of action, the keynote speaker, Mrs. Efua Ghartey, President of the Ghana Bar Association, delivered a stirring address on the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, challenging all present to push beyond implementation and make sure this new law is lived, breathed, and reflected in real institutional change.
Mrs. Ghartey reminded everyone that “true empowerment is not something that is given, but something that is earned through action.”
Shedding Light on Women in Agribusiness, Nana Yaa Owusu-Ansah, Beauty & Personal Care Marketing Director at Unilever Ghana & Francophone Africa, shares her insights on the innovative ‘Industry Spotlight on Women in Agribusiness’ segment, a new addition to the summit.
This exciting feature highlights the vital role women play in Ghana’s agribusiness sector, showcasing their successes, challenges, and contributions to the industry.”
As the headline sponsor of the summit, she emphasized the vital role women play in Agribusiness and the synergy with the Geisha brand.
She said, “Geisha is immensely proud to once again be the headline sponsor of this powerful women’s summit. Just like the incredible women we honor today; Geisha draws its strength from nature’s nurturing touch. Packed with natural ingredients like cocoa, coconut, lemon, aloe vera, and rose.”
She went on to make a bold brand promise, outlining the steps Geisha is taking to support women in Agribusiness: “Today, Geisha is taking bold strides to accelerate progress in Agribusiness. We’re launching a nationwide initiative to discover and support 10 visionary young women entering the agribusiness field. These women will undergo a comprehensive training program designed to arm them with the skills they need to excel. “
“And that’s not all—each of them will also receive seed funding from Geisha to grow their businesses. I believe that when women in agribusiness thrive, they don’t just grow—they multiply. Geisha isn’t just investing in their ventures; we’re igniting their potential and inspiring a future filled with abundant harvests,” she further added.
From the beginning through to the end of the event, there were series of discussions some of the sharpest minds and the most accomplished women leaders diving deep into critical issues like overcoming leadership barriers for women in both corporate and public sectors, to the intricacies of the Affirmative Action Law.
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Over GH₵80m was collected in betting tax, Amin Adam got it wrong – Finance Minister
Ghana’s Minister for Finance Ato Forson says the claim by former Finance Minister Mohammed Amin Adam that the erstwhile administration never implemented the betting tax is not factual.
Speaking at a new conference on Tuesday, March 11, shortly after the Finance Minister presented the new government’s first budget statement and abolished the e-levy, betting tax among others, the former Finance Minister said the NPP government never enforced the controversial tax on lottery and sports betting winnings.
Dr Amin Adam said it was deceptive for the NDC government to claim to abolish a tax that was never collected although the law was passed in 2023.
“Betting tax that they said they have abolished, we never collected Betting Tax. So to come and tell Ghanaians that you have abolished something that you have not implemented, is to deceive the people of Ghana.”
Responding to the claims in an interview with Evans Mensah on JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday night, the Finance Minister said his colleague on the other side appears not to be on top of that issue.
“I don’t think he’s on top of that matter because my checks revealed that it was implemented in the second half of 2024. And my checks also reveal that year-to-date, the government of Ghana has collected over GH₵80 million from betting tax, so I don’t know what he’s talking about. It is not the fact. The fact on the ground does not support his assertion. Clearly, the betting tax was implemented,” he insisted.
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Whoever created BoG’s GH₵53bn negative equity mess should be held responsible – Dr. Atuahene
Banking consultant Richmond Atuahene has called for accountability over the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) GH₵53 billion negative equity, insisting that those responsible for the mess must be held accountable.
In an interview on Joy FM’s Midday News on Wednesday, March 12, he called for those responsible for breaching financial regulations to be summoned before Parliament to explain their actions.
“There was a law that stated they should not exceed a 5% fiscal financing threshold, yet they went as high as 60%. This is a clear violation, and they cannot claim ignorance. The Governor, the Minister, and those involved must be held accountable for their actions,” he asserted
His comment comes after the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, advised BoG to explore internal cost-cutting measures instead of relying on taxpayer funds for a GH₵53 billion bailout to address its negative equity position.
Dr. Atuahene supported the Finance Minister’s stance that the government cannot afford to recapitalise the central bank at this time, given the nation’s fiscal constraints.
“Like the Minister said, you don’t create a mess and leave it for others to clean up. Whoever created this mess must take personal responsibility. When they engaged in the monetisation of fiscal deficits in 2021 and 2022, some of us warned them about the consequences, but they didn’t listen,” he stated.
Dr. Atuahene stressed that rather than relying on external funding, the Bank of Ghana should explore internal restructuring, cost-cutting, and asset sales, including a sale-leaseback arrangement on some of its properties, to raise the necessary capital.
He also highlighted the potential damage to Ghana’s international credibility if the Bank of Ghana remains in a financially distressed position.
“This affects Ghana’s credibility. BoG has correspondent relationships with the Bank of England, the Federal Reserve, and the African Development Bank. If it continues to operate in a capital-deficient state, international institutions may lose confidence in our financial system,” he warned.
Dr. Atuahene also criticised the central bank for insisting that it is “policy solvent,” arguing that capital solvency is more critical in this situation.
“You can claim policy solvency all you want, but if you are capital insolvent, it means you cannot function properly. BoG has been making losses year after year. They made losses in 2023, and they are making losses in 2024. How long will this continue?” he questioned.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
