The UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC), in partnership with the British High Commission, has organised the second International Women’s Day Networking Brunch, a platform for business leaders, policymakers, civil society groups and young professionals to explore practical strategies for empowering women in leadership while acknowledging the role of male allies in driving change.

Held at the British High Commissioner’s residence on March 14, and sponsored by British Airways, the event focused on the theme: “Enhancing Women’s Leadership and Representation in Decision-Making Across Industries”. More than just a celebration, the gathering delivered practical takeaways to inspire change, challenge stereotypes and encourage more intentional efforts toward gender equity in leadership.

Breaking down barriers 
Setting the tone for the discussion, UKGCC Executive Director, Adjoba Kyiamah, emphasised that breaking barriers for women required more than just rhetoric—it demanded deliberate actions that addressed the real challenges they faced in the business world.

"The issues we discuss today are not abstract. Our annual business climate and competitiveness survey, conducted since 2019, consistently highlights obstacles such as access to finance, bureaucratic inefficiencies, tax burdens and the cost of electricity. These are universal business challenges. Yet, women in leadership and entrepreneurship often have to navigate additional hurdles," she noted.
She underscored the need for mentorship, sponsorship and structural reforms to level the playing field and ensure women have equal opportunities to thrive in leadership roles.

The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, delivered a compelling address, stressing that this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Accelerate Action”, was not just a slogan but a direct call to dismantle systemic obstacles more swiftly and effectively and translate into real, measurable progress.
While acknowledging progress in gender representation across industries, she pointed out that women still encountered significant hurdles when striving for leadership positions.

"Tackling these challenges demands urgent, collective effort, but I am encouraged by the presence of so many individuals here today, which signals a shared commitment to advancing gender equality—whether in the workplace, the boardroom or beyond,” she asserted.

Roadmap for women’s success
A key highlight of the event was a thought-provoking panel discussion, moderated by the British envoy, which explored actionable solutions to elevate more women into leadership roles. The panel identified critical success factors, including self-belief, mentorship, sponsorship, risk-taking, advocacy, reduced dependency on external validation and intentional career decision-making.

Among the esteemed panel were Ellen Sarfo Kantanka (Head of Legal, TotalEnergies Ghana), Mukesh Thakwani (CEO, B5 Plus Group), Emmanuel Osei Ntim (General Manager, The Fon Group), Julia Baidoe-Ansah (Creative Director, Efatabyjuba Clothing Brand), Melissa Bediako (Director of Sales & Marketing, Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City, Accra) and Jessie Jacintho (General Counsel, GCB Bank Plc).

The event concluded with a strong consensus: empowering women must extend beyond conversations to concrete actions that challenge existing norms and promote an inclusive leadership culture. Participants departed with a renewed commitment to pursue meaningful change in their organisations, industries and communities.