Ghana’s private sector has renewed calls for stronger investment in women as a pathway to driving inclusive economic growth, as stakeholders gathered in Accra to mark International Women’s Day with a focus on economic empowerment.

The event, held under the theme “Rights, Justice, Action for All Women” and sub-theme “Investing in Women, Promoting Economic Growth,” brought together policymakers, development partners, and women entrepreneurs to explore ways of strengthening women’s participation in Ghana’s economy.

Speaking at a National Economic Empowerment Programme in Accra on March 17, First Vice President of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Emelia Asiakwa, stressed that empowering women is not only a matter of social justice but a critical economic strategy for national development.

Mrs. Asiakwa noted that women form a significant part of Ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, operating thousands of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises that support households and contribute to national growth.

She explained that when women succeed economically, they reinvest in their families, particularly in education and health, creating a ripple effect that strengthens communities.

Despite these contributions, she pointed out that women entrepreneurs continue to face persistent structural barriers, including limited access to finance, market constraints, regulatory challenges, and underrepresentation in leadership and decision-making spaces.

She also drew attention to security risks confronting women in trade, referencing recent incidents involving Ghanaian traders in Burkina Faso, which underscore the vulnerabilities faced by many women engaged in cross-border commerce.

According to her, these challenges highlight the need for stronger collaboration between the governments, security agencies, and trade institutions to ensure safer trading environments.

On her part, the Director for West Africa and AfCFTA at TradeMark Africa, Harriet Gayi, stated that the realities faced by women traders across the region must remain central to policy and reform efforts.

She recounted a recent visit to women entrepreneurs and market traders in Togo under the “Make Trade Work for Women in West Africa” project, supported by Global Affairs Canada, where she encountered firsthand the daily struggles women face in cross-border trade.

“Behind every statistic about trade and economic growth is a woman navigating complex regulations, unpredictable border procedures, unfamiliar laws, language barriers, and sometimes harassment, simply to earn a living,” she noted.

She stressed that investing in women remains one of the highest-return economic decisions any society can make, noting that gender-inclusive trade policies, improved border infrastructure, and stronger market access are essential to unlocking this potential.

Ms. Gayi further cautioned that while the African Continental Free Trade Area presents a historic opportunity to transform Africa’s trade landscape, its full benefits will not be realised unless women and young entrepreneurs are fully integrated into the system.

Mrs. Asiakwa reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to advocating policies that support women-owned businesses, noting that inclusive economic growth cannot be achieved without actively integrating women as leaders and decision-makers in the economy.

“Empowering women economically is not simply about fairness. It is about unlocking the full productive potential of our economy,” she said, urging stakeholders to take collective action.

The event forms part of broader efforts by the private sector and its partners to promote inclusive development by strengthening women’s economic participation across Ghana and the wider West African region.