Regional Executive of Ecobank for Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa and Managing Director of Ecobank Kenya, Mrs. Josephine Anan-Ankomah, has called for a radical transformation in financial systems to empower women beyond mere participation. Speaking on the second day of the 2025 Aggrey-Fraiser-Guggisberg Memorial Lectures, she emphasized that the time for diagnosing the problem is over—now is the time to dismantle barriers and revolutionize financial services.
“We must move women from being borrowers to becoming investors, from financial literacy to financial mastery, where they fully control and grow their wealth,” she stated.
As a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Mrs. Anan-Ankomah issued a rallying call to key stakeholders:
- To financial institutions: Stop treating women as a niche market and recognize them as the $5 trillion investment opportunity they represent.
- To policymakers: Move beyond ‘gender-neutral’ policies that systematically exclude women and instead implement intentional, data-driven financial inclusion strategies.
- To investors: Back women-led businesses, as data shows they deliver stronger returns, foster economic stability, and drive sustainable growth.
- To women: Own your financial power. Borrow to grow, invest to build wealth, and lead the financial revolution.
She underscored the urgency of shifting the financial narrative, stating, “Her Money. Her Power. is not just a slogan—it’s an economic transformation waiting to unfold. The question is not whether finance can work for women, but whether we have the vision, courage, and urgency to ensure that it does. When women control their money, they control their future—and when that happens, the world wins.”
Chairperson of the lecture and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, reiterated that empowering women financially has far-reaching implications for families, communities, and the global economy. She called for deliberate and sustained efforts to eliminate financial barriers and create a truly inclusive economic system.
The 2025 Aggrey-Fraiser-Guggisberg Memorial Lectures continue to spark critical discussions on gender equity and economic empowerment, reinforcing the University of Ghana’s commitment to inclusive growth.
By Madjid Diallo || GhanaNewsOnline