Matilda Asante-Asiedu, Head of Exclusive Banking at Access Bank said the initiative covered young ladies in the corporate world, women in business, and women who had families.

She said this at the first National Women’s Summit held at the Accra International Conference Centre on Thursday.She said: “Access bank supported Charter House in organising this summit as part of its commitment to inspire, connect and empower women with banking services.”

The summit brought together leading women to engage in panel discussion on the topics: ‘the corporate woman- breaking through the glass ceiling; the woman entrepreneur – building your business into the future; women and our health; personal image and grooming.’

Dr Joyce Aryee, Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministries, who chaired the summit said women can achieve excellence and requires integrity. "You should make genuine mistakes, be authentic, learn from others but do it in your own way. Excellence requires integrity and paying attention to details."

In the first session of the summit, Ruka Sanusi, the moderator engaged Lucy Quist, Managing Director of Airtel; Patience Akyianu, Managing Director of Barclays and Freda Duplan, Managing Director of Nestle to discuss ‘The Corporate Woman – Breaking The Glass Ceiling’.

Lucy Quist said that the country needed more female participation in the technological world.During the second session, Kate Quartey Papafio, Managing Director of Reroy Cables; Grace Amey Obeng, Managing Director of FC Group; Edith Dankwa, Managing Director of Business and Financial Times; Ellen Hagin, Managing Director of Laine Services discussed “The Woman Entrepreneur – Building Your Business Into The Future”.

Kate Quartey Papafio said: “After importing cables a few times, I decided to rather import the machines and produce locally. We have since then moved from wholesaling, to distribution, and wiring.”

Edith Dankwa said she began to work with the Business Times as an employee and later became an employer. “The owners of the Business Times lost interest as they were not gaining on their investment. I saw it as an opportunity and bought it out” she said.

Pearl Essuah- Mensah, moderator of the discussion noted that women in sharing their experiences as entrepreneurs, identified opportunities out of a necessity, and built it with tenacity into a successful business.

The National Women’s Summit is organised by Ghana’s Leading Events Management and Production Company – Charterhouse in partnership with Joy FM and Access W Initiative and supported by Marie Stopes Ghana, The Executive Women Network and Business and Financial Times.