Emelia Asiakwa, First Vice-President of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), has called for increased investment in women to accelerate economic growth and promote inclusive development. 

She said empowering women was not only a matter of social justice but a critical economic strategy, as women played a key role in Ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

Dr Asiakwa made the call at an event to mark the International Women’s Day, on the theme: “Rights, Justice, Action for All Women,” with a sub-theme focusing on investing in women to promote economic growth. 

The event was organised in partnership with Trademark Africa.  

She said women operated a significant number of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, contributing to job creation, household income and national development. 

Evidence showed that when women succeeded economically, they reinvested in their families, particularly in education and health, thereby strengthening communities and improving social outcomes, she noted. 

Despite those contributions, Dr Asiakwa said there were persistent challenges facing women entrepreneurs, including limited access to finance, market constraints, regulatory bottlenecks and underrepresentation in leadership and decision-making. 

She raised concerns over security risks associated with cross-border trade, indicating there was the need for stronger collaboration among governments, security agencies and trade institutions to ensure safe trading environments. 

Dr Asiakwa observed that women-owned businesses had the potential to boost domestic revenue mobilisation, expand the tax base and drive innovation if given the necessary support. 

She explained that the programme sought to equip women with practical skills in entrepreneurship, financial management and business development, while enhancing their access to finance and markets. 

“The initiative aims to strengthen dialogue between policymakers, financial institutions and women entrepreneurs to address structural barriers to business growth,” she added. 

Dr Asiakwa urged stakeholders to leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area to expand women’s participation in regional and international trade. 

She called for collective action from the Government, financial institutions, development partners and the private sector to create an enabling environment for women-led enterprises. 

“Empowering women will lead to business growth, stronger families and more resilient communities, ultimately contributing to sustainable national development.” 

Madam Harriet Gayi, Director for West Africa and AfCFTA at TradeMark Africa, emphasised that investing in women was critical to driving inclusive economic growth. 

She said her recent engagement with women traders in Togo under the “Make Trade Work for Women in West Africa” project showed the daily realities women faced in pursuing livelihoods. 

Gender-inclusive trade policies, improved border systems and stronger partnerships were essential to creating a more enabling environment for women-led businesses, she noted. 

Ms Gayi emphasised the importance of ensuring that women and youth fully benefited from opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area. 

She called on stakeholders to use the platform provided by the programme, organised in partnership with the GNCCI, to make concrete commitments, build partnerships and take action to advance women’s economic empowerment.