Women leaders from aviation, banking, medicine, and government came together in Accra on Saturday for a breakfast conversation that moved beyond typical International Women’s Day speeches to address financial discipline, menopause, and the structural barriers still limiting women’s progress in male-dominated industries.
The event, organised by Women in Aviation and the Ladies Club of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), marked International Women’s Day 2026 under the global theme “Give to Gain.”
GACL Managing Director Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare opened the gathering by framing women’s empowerment as a collective economic strategy rather than a personal achievement.
“When we invest in women, we unlock a ripple effect of progress that benefits families, organisations, and society as a whole,” she said, urging participants to commit to creating inclusive environments within their own spheres of influence.
Delivering the keynote, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Emelia Arthur drew a pointed parallel between her sector and aviation. In both industries, she said, women contribute enormously but remain systematically under-recognised. In Ghana’s fisheries sector, women dominate fish processing and trading yet have historically been excluded from decision-making. Her ministry, she said, is working to correct that through gender-focused policies, technology access, and targeted training.
“Every gain we celebrate today exists because someone somewhere gave their time, knowledge, mentorship, courage, or opportunity,” she said.
The event’s practical sessions offered participants tools they could apply immediately. Access Bank Ghana Board Chairperson Ama Bawuah addressed financial independence, urging women to cultivate consistent saving habits, invest responsibly, and plan ahead for setbacks. Her core message was direct: financial independence expands a woman’s choices.
On health, Family Physician Consultant and Diabetes Specialist Dr Diana Afeng-Nkansah of the 37 Military Hospital urged participants to prioritise food quality over quantity and warned that lifestyle diseases, particularly diabetes, were preventable through mindful eating and balanced diets.
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Heindel Senaya, also from the 37 Military Hospital, tackled menopause, a subject many women experience but rarely discuss openly. He explained the physical and emotional dimensions of the condition and encouraged women to seek professional guidance rather than manage symptoms alone.
Across the discussions, a consistent theme emerged: women rise faster when they lift others.
“When one woman rises, she creates a pathway for many others,” Minister Arthur said, challenging leaders present to actively mentor younger women entering their fields.
