GEA launches a female leadership development programme

The Ghana Employers Association(GEA) in collaboration with the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) has launched a female leadership development programme in Ghana called the Female Future Programme (FFP). The event, which was organized on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at the Movempick Ambassador Hotel was launched by Ms Mansa Nettey, CEO of the Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Limited. The event brought together key industry female captains in Ghana, representatives from Norfund and NHO as well as the Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GEA, Mr. Alex Frimpong indicated that the purpose of the programme is to empower women to compete favourably with their male counterparts in the corporate environment and every aspect of life. He added that the programme is expected to build women to enable them assume leadership roles and board positions in both the private and public sectors.

In his remarks, the President of GEA, Mr Dan Acheampong highlighted that, as part of preparations towards the implementation of the FFP, a baseline study which was conducted by GEA identified some interesting factors such as effective mentoring mechanisms, efficient social support systems, social networking and building of emotional intelligence to be crucial in elevating women to leadership positions.

He further indicated that some demotivating factors such as weak self-image, lack of assertiveness and determination, and mentoring lapses as major limiting barriers to women representation at the apex of the corporate ladder.

According to Mr Acheampong, these studies do not paint a good picture about the gender diversity of the Ghanaian corporate environment and therefore required that organizations fully utilize the female talent by providing women with the requisite skills and giving them opportunities to assume higher responsibilities.

In her keynote address, Ms Mansa Nettey indicated that available evidence shows that organizations that supported their female staff to successfully go through the programme have benefited significantly from increased productivity, profits, workplace happiness, improved corporate image and reduced turnover as well as risk/return ratios. She therefore urged all employers in both public and private sector to enrol their female workers on the programme.