Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare stated that women are Ghana's "underutilised engine of national growth." The nation cannot achieve its economic goals while leaving half its population untapped, she explained. The Minister made these remarks at the 2026 Ghana Female CEOs Summit in Accra.
She emphasized that women's economic participation must be seen as a national economic priority, not just a social issue. The Minister acknowledged the difficulties women face in leadership roles. Female business leaders deserve praise for their resilience and contributions to Ghana’s economy. She noted that leadership in male-dominated fields requires discipline and quiet determination. Women are proving they belong at the head of tables, she added.
The Minister praised female chief executives for their enterprises. These businesses demonstrate that combining assets with ambition yields extraordinary results. They create jobs and navigate economic challenges. These women are not footnotes in Ghana's growth story, she stated. The summit organisers were also commended for their nation-building work.
Women make up about 51 percent of Ghana’s population. Sidelining them hinders national development. Ghana cannot reach its economic ambitions without full female participation. Women represent an under-activated engine of national growth, she asserted. International figures support this view. The International Finance Corporation estimates closing the gender financing gap for small and medium businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa could add $42 billion annually. McKinsey Global Institute projects advancing women’s equality in Africa could boost the continent’s GDP by $316 billion.
Women are vital to Ghana’s agriculture and food sectors. Empowering them economically is the fastest route to household prosperity. It also builds national resilience. Women consistently reinvest most of their income into families and communities. The government is implementing interventions to support women-led businesses. This includes establishing the Ghana Women's Development Bank. This bank will be the most targeted financial intervention for women in Ghana's history.
Women entrepreneurs are key partners in Ghana’s national transformation. Stakeholders must turn discussions into measurable actions. Women’s economic participation is a national competitiveness strategy. Countries that unlock women's full productive potential grow faster. They also show more resilience to economic shocks. These nations build more equitable societies, the Minister highlighted. The government remains committed to an inclusive and competitive economy. Building productive industries and expanding inclusive trade is essential. The goal is an economy worthy of its women leaders.