11th Ghana Women of Excellence Awards recognise 20 outstanding achievers

Twenty outstanding women leaders across corporate, public service, healthcare and advocacy sectors were honoured at the 11th Ghana Women of Excellence Awards.

Organised by Top Brass Ghana under the theme “Empowering the Ghanaian woman for national development”, the Ghana Women of Excellence Awards scheme forms part of the International Women’s Day celebration.

According to Isaac Dakwa, Director of Top Brass Ghana, the primary objective of the scheme is to motivate Ghanaian women to strive for excellence in their various walks of life and to take their rightful places in the national development process.

In a keynote address, Rev. Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, commended the awardees, describing women as the backbone of the nation, playing pivotal roles in households, businesses and society at large.

Dr. Aryee emphasised that empowerment is not charity, but an investment, highlighting quality education, access to capital and mentorship as critical levers.

She called on awardees to use their recognition as a “fuel station” to inspire younger women to pursue leadership without compromising cultural or professional identity.

The Chairman of the ceremony, Nana Baa Wiredu, a former Consultant at the UN World Tourism Organisation, praised Ghanaian women for their long-standing excellence and contributions to society.

He also emphasised the importance of empowering women to continue making meaningful contributions to national development.

Award winners

The 11th edition of the Ghana Women of Excellence Awards celebrated 20 distinguished women across sectoral and lifetime achievement categories.

Sectoral Awards recognised women who have excelled in their respective fields, including corporate, banking, tourism, advocacy and public service. The honourees were Maria Adamu-Zibo, Managing Director of Federated Commodities Plc. (Agribusiness: Cocoa Marketing); Doris Kwekwor Adjei, Managing Director of Zoomlion Ghana Limited (Environmental Sustainability).

Also, Lena Adu-Kofi, CEO of Safety Insurance Brokers Limited (Insurance: Brokerage); Dr. Irene Stella Agyenim-Boateng, Vice Chairman of the Public Services Commission (Institutional Management); Akua Bonsu-Owu, President of the Association of Women Accountants Ghana (Financial Management); Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, Expert Manager at the UN Committee on Rights of Persons With Disabilities (Disability Rights Advocacy).

The rest are Maame Efua Houadjeto, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority (Corporate Communication); Irene Baaba Hagan, Chairperson of GTBank Ghana (Banking: Commercial); Olivia Nyarkoa Kyeh, Chairperson of Sefwiman Rural Bank Plc. (Banking: Rural); Silvia Rajniak, General Manager of Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City (Tourism Promotion: Hospitality); and Fairuza Abdul-Rashid Safian, CEO of the Campaign for Female Education (Women’s Empowerment).

Lifetime Achievement Awards

Lifetime Achievement Awards honoured women who have made long-standing contributions in their sectors and to national development.

The recipients include Madam Afi Amoro, Chief Executive Officer of Jandel Limited, recognised in the event management category; and Rev. Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, honoured for her contributions to mining and public service.

Also recognised are Nana Krobea Asante, Chief Executive Officer of Azmera Restaurant, in the tourism and catering category; and Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), for her work in tertiary education and scientific research.

The list further includes Aretha Abena Abrafi Duku, Managing Director of Ghana Union Assurance Company Limited, recognised in the insurance sector; and Efua Ghartey, Founding Partner of Ghartey and Ghartey Law Firm, honoured for her contributions to the legal profession.

Also among the awardees are Elizabeth Mills-Robertson, former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, recognised for her work in law and order; Dr. Victoria Afua Norgbey, President of Women in Poultry Value Chain, in the agribusiness (poultry) category; and Prof. Nana-Akyaa Yao, a paediatric cardiologist at the National Cardiothoracic Centre, honoured for her work in healthcare, particularly paediatric cardiology.

The awards highlighted the transformative impact of women across sectors, reinforcing the central message: empowered women are the driving force behind national development.

Post Views: 2