The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) has joined stock exchanges worldwide in commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 through its flagship event, ‘Ring the Bell for Gender Equality’. This year’s theme, “Ring the Bell for Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, and Empowerment,” underscores GSE’s commitment to fostering inclusivity and advancing gender equality in the capital markets and beyond.

The event, held at GSE premises on March 11, 2025, brought together industry players, women entrepreneurs, corporates, students, and advocates to highlight the critical role of women in economic development and the need for equitable opportunities for women in all sectors.

The keynote speaker for the event, the Chief Executive Officer of L’AINE HR and Co-Founder of Legacy Girls’ College, Dr. Mrs Ellen Hagan, in her speech, said: ‘That gender equality and women empowerment are no longer a cliché; it is a fundamental need for a thriving economy and society. Empowering women and ensuring equal opportunities is not just a matter of fairness, it is essential for progress, innovation and sustainable success in any industry.’’

In her remarks, the Managing Director of the Ghana Stock Exchange, Abena Amoah, reaffirmed GSE’s dedication to gender diversity and inclusion: "At the Ghana Stock Exchange, we believe that a thriving economy is one where women and girls have equal access to opportunities and resources. Our commitment goes beyond today’s celebration—we continue to champion policies that promote female participation in leadership, investment, and entrepreneurship.’’

Also speaking at the event, Cemile Hacibeyglo, Senior Country Officer, IFC Ghana, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in achieving gender equality: “At IFC, we are committed to promoting economic opportunities for women, both through our investments and within our institution. We recognize that gender equality is not just a fundamental right, it is a business imperative. When women thrive, businesses grow, industries expand, and economies prosper.”

In his goodwill message, the Executive Director for UN Global Compact, Ghana, Tolu Kweku Lacroix said:“The Forward Faster campaign by the UN Global Compact emphasizes the urgency of accelerating progress on gender equality as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Companies must commit to achieving equal representation of women in leadership roles, including at the board and executive levels. True empowerment requires more than just words—it requires action.”

The event also featured a high-level panel discussion with distinguished speakers from the financial sector, corporate Ghana and a girl’s school, sharing insights on enhancing women and girls’ rights, gender equality and empowerment

GSE organised this event in collaboration with its esteemed global partners, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), the United Nations Global Compact, the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative and UN Women.