IWD26: SanlamAllianz CEO calls for investment in women as ultimate ‘Give to Gain’

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of SanlamAllianz General Insurance Ghana LTD, Mabel Nana Nyarkoa Porbley, has added her voice to the call for more impactful investment in women for optimum gains.

Speaking on International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, a special publication by the B&FT under the theme “Give to Gain,” the idea that investing in a woman yields exponential returns for national development, she emphasised that the multiplier effect of investing in women on the economy cannot be overemphasised, hence the need to dedicate more resources to this course.

“When you give a woman education or add value to a woman’s life, the multiplier effect is enormous,” she said.

She revived the timeless adage that to educate a woman is to educate a whole nation, whereas educating a man educates an individual. This is not a slight against men, she clarified, but a recognition of the unique role women play as primary influencers of the next generation.

By investing in the girl child, society is effectively planting seeds that will yield a harvest of educated families and stronger communities.

She pointed to women’s natural capacity for multitasking as a distinct competitive advantage in today’s fast-paced business environment. However, she was quick to note that natural gifts alone are insufficient without a deliberate strategy for growth.

For young female graduates aspiring to leadership, the well-accomplished MD/CEO offered a blueprint for success rooted in resilience and adaptability.

She urged young graduates to reject the cultural narratives that confine women to middle-level positions and to consistently put their best foot forward, refusing to settle for societal limitations.

Success, she said, requires a high degree of environmental intelligence, the ability to adjust to the corporate culture and crucially, the humility to seek help when needed.

“You can’t know it all, seek mentorship from those who have already navigated the path and fall on your family as a backbone,” she added.

According to her, the act of investing in a woman is not merely an act of charity or fairness; it is a strategic economic decision with exponential returns.

Change Maker -Mabel Nana Nyarkoa Porbley

As the world gears up to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, the conversation surrounding gender equity is shifting from mere representation to tangible impact.

At the forefront of this dialogue in Ghana’s corporate sector is Mrs. Mabel Nana Nyarkoa Porbley, with a career spanning over 26 years, including 17 years immersed in the insurance industry and an impressive 14 years spent as a CEO across three different companies.

She is a testament to the resilience and brilliance that IWD 2026 seeks to honour.

This year’s IWD theme, dedicated to strengthening the resilience and brilliance of women worldwide, resonates deeply with Mrs. Porbley’s personal journey and professional philosophy. In a recent interview, she distilled her message into a powerful concept: “Give to Gain.”

Mrs. Porbley’s track record reads like a manual for corporate recovery. During her tenure at Momentum Health Ghana, she was instrumental in scaling the firm to become the nation’s second-largest health insurer.

Later, at the Metropolitan Group, she managed high-pressure mergers and founded the Metropolitan Pensions Trust.

Her most cited achievement occurred at NSIA Insurance Ghana, where she inherited a company that had suffered a decade of consistent losses. Under her direction, the firm was steered into profitability, proving her mettle in fiscal discipline and strategic rebranding.

She repeated this success by restructuring Saham Insurance, successfully rebranding it as Sanlam General Insurance, and propelling it into the industry’s elite ‘Top 10’ bracket.

Leading the 2024 Mega-Merger

The 2024 merger between global giants Sanlam and Allianz presented Mrs. Porbley with a very significant challenge: integrating two distinct corporate cultures into a singular, sustainable powerhouse.

Not only did she successfully unify the businesses, but she also positioned the new entity, SanlamAllianz General Insurance Ghana, to earn a prestigious spot in the 2024 Ghana Club 100, ranking at an impressive 64th position.

Beyond her corporate duties, Mrs. Porbley is a titan of industry governance. She has served two terms as the second Vice President of the Ghana Insurers Association and currently lends her expertise to the Councils of the Ghana Insurance College and the West Africa Institute of Insurance in the Gambia.

An Influence Beyond Insurance

Her impact extends into national economic policy. In 2023, she was a critical member of the Ministry of Finance’s Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP) Committee, navigating one of the most sensitive periods in Ghana’s financial history. Currently, she sits on the boards of Izwe Savings and Loans and the Duke of Edinburgh Head of State Awards, balancing commercial growth with social impact.

As a product of Wesley Girls’ High School and an alumna of the University of Cape Coast and GIMPA, the Chartered Insurer (CII-UK) has seen her efforts recognised at the highest levels.

Named “Insurance Personality of the Year” in 2017 and “Woman of Impact of the Year” at the 2025 Ghana Business Awards, Mrs. Mabel Nana Nyarkoa Porbley remains the gold standard for transformational leadership in West Africa.

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