Employers’ Association holds 4th annual leadership conference

By Wisdom JONNY-NUEKPE

The Ghana Employers’ Association (GEA) held its 4^th Annual Leadership Conference (ALC) in Accra, with a call on public and corporate institutions to lead with impact, in order to bring transformative leadership for sustainable future at the workplace.

The event brought together women leaders from various organizations, to deliberate on issues pertaining to women in leadership, and specifically on policies that support various stakeholders in narrowing the gender gap at the apex of leadership.

Speaking on the theme, “Leading with Impact: Transformative Leadership for Sustainable Future”, the Second Vice President of GEA, Mrs Victoria Hajar, said the conference’s aim is to shape the future of leadership in Ghana – one that is inclusive, transformative and sustainably impactful.

She said the 4th ALC marked yet another milestone in the Association’s collective journey to reframe leadership narratives in Ghana, particularly as it relates to gender inclusion and sustainable enterprise development.

This year’s conference brings together over 250 participants from diverse sectors, including corporate leaders, policymakers, development partners, and civil society actors.

According to Mrs Hajar, the Conference’s theme speaks to the urgent need for leadership models that are adaptive, inclusive, and purpose driven in the face of complex challenges such as economic volatility, technological disruptions and widening inequality, adding, “Ghana needs leaders who’ll inspire shared vision, embrace diversity and challenge the status quo”.

She said the gender leadership gap solutions being offered by the GEA, through its Female Future Programme (FFP), cannot be complete without the profound support of employers, who have nominated and continue to give opportunity to their female talents to participate in the annual training programmes.

“Let us recommit to the ideals the FFP embodies, discuss and enact change that ensures that women in Ghana have the opportunity to lead, influence and innovate. Let us continue to support, mentor and sponsor female talents, whilst recognizing their potentials to contribute to the country’s development” Mrs Hajar indicated.

Chairman of the Public Services Commission, Prof. Victor Agyeman, who was the guest speakers at the Conference, explained government’s vision to create over one million jobs in the next four years, a chunk of which are female targeted.

He said, government aims to absorb over 300,000 new entrants into the job market this year, with key focus on women entrepreneurs.

“The National Apprenticeship Programme, which was recently launched by government, seeks to provide free technical and vocational education particularly to women” Prof Agyeman said.

He reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring that women are empowered at various levels of leadership, adding, “A key vision of this government is to create sustainable jobs for women entrepreneurs.”

Graduates of the GEA’s FFPGH

At this year’s Conference, the Association graduated participant professionals of cohorts seven and eight, of the Female Future Programme Ghana – a gender-focused initiative, dedicated to empowering women to assume leadership roles.

This year, a total of 90 women participants graduated from the programme. Driven by a vision for Ghana, where women have equal access to opportunities and contribute fully to national development, the FFP with support from the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, provides training, mentorship, and networking platforms for aspiring and established leaders.

Since its inception in 2019, the FFP has runs six cohorts of 275 participants in both public and private organizations across various sectors. According to GEA, 34 alumni of the programme have been appointed to serve on boards and committees, while 91 have accessed leadership positions.

The power of purpose

Speaking on a panel discussion on the topic, ‘The Power of Purpose – Leading with Impact in a Changing World’, CEO, Stratcomm Africa, Madam Esther A.N Cobbah, CEO of L’aine HR Services, Dr Mrs Ellen Hagan, Executive Secretary of National Labour Commission, Dr Bernice Welbeck and a Senior Gender Specialist at UN Women, Afua Ansre, led discussions at the Conference on the need for women to scale up and take advantage of nascent opportunities in leadership spaces.

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