The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, has said it is high time some notable girls’ senior high schools integrated entrepreneurial skills training, digital literacy, and financial management into their curriculum.

“Beyond classroom knowledge, students should be exposed to mentorship, internship, and start-up incubation programmes to nurture the next generation of female business leaders,” he added.

Mr Gunu was speaking at the 71st Speech and Prize-Giving Day of OLA Senior High School, Ho, on the school’s campus on Saturday, March 15, 2025.

The event, which coincided with the Silver Jubilee celebration of the 1999/2000 year group, was on the theme: “Championing the Cause of Female Entrepreneurs as Catalysts for Change and Socio-Economic Growth.”

Mr Gunu, who was a special guest, pointed out that women-owned businesses were at the heart of Ghana’s economic transformation.

He cited agribusiness, technology, fashion, finance, healthcare, and digital innovation as areas in which female entrepreneurs were creating jobs, solving problems, and contributing to national growth.

In Ghana, the Regional Minister said, women constituted about 44 percent of all entrepreneurs, one of the highest rates in the world. That, he noted, was ample proof that women were not just participants in the economy but also leaders and drivers of change.

Despite that progress, however, many women faced barriers such as limited access to funding, mentorship, and business training, Mr Gunu said.

That, he maintained, highlighted the need for deliberate and sustained efforts to ensure women were given the appropriate tools, support, and opportunities they needed to thrive.

For instance, Mr Gunu said they needed better access to financial support, grants, and investment opportunities to expand their businesses.

“It is in that regard President Mahama came up with the Women’s Development Bank initiative,” he said.

The Regional Minister gave an assurance that the government would continue to advocate for policy reforms to promote gender equality in economic participation.

He paid glowing tribute to OLA Senior High School, Ho, for producing leaders, innovators, and game-changers, saying many of the trailblazing women in business, academia, medicine, and governance who were shaping the country today were products of the school.

Mr Gunu urged the students to study diligently towards a bright future and congratulated the 1999/2000 year group, the hosts of the celebration, for their dedication to the progress of their alma mater.

“The bond you share as the Past OLA Girls’ Association (POGA) is powerful, and I encourage you to continue supporting, mentoring, and empowering the young women who will walk in your footsteps,” he said.

The keynote speaker, Lucy Afari, an entrepreneur and a member of the 2000 year group of POGA, said investing in women entrepreneurs could have a transformative impact on local economies and communities.

“Women entrepreneurs are more likely to empower themselves economically, invest in education and healthcare for their families, create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and develop innovative solutions to social and environmental problems,” she explained.

Ms Afari said that with just a little encouragement and support, a woman could turn her business idea into a reality, empowering herself and her family to achieve economic stability and prosperity.

The headmistress, Benedicta Amata Agbezudor, said the high standards of OLA Ho continued to attract both Ghanaians and foreigners who wished for their children and wards to experience the holistic secondary education the school was known for.

She said the school now had an enrolment of 4,607 students, including 105-day students.

Touching on challenges, the headmistress said the school had two rickety 33-seater buses, which were detrimental to the image and administrative duties of the school.

Additionally, she said the science laboratories needed major renovation and refurbishment and appealed to the government and philanthropic bodies to support the school in that direction to enhance effective teaching and learning on campus.