The
WLFI,
birthed
by
Network
for
Women’s
Rights
in
Ghana
(NETRIGHT),
in
partnership
with
the
Graca
Machel
Trust
(GMT)
seeks
to
build
and
institutionalise
a
collective
of
African
women
leaders
as
expert
women
leaders
and
leading
women’s
networks.

The
networks
are
expected
to
influence
policy
actions
that
would
promote
inclusive
economic
recovery
in
Africa
through
women’s
financial
inclusion.

It
would
also
provide
a
common
and
collective
space
to
promote
women’s
leadership
as
well
as
address
structural
barriers
and
systemic
inequalities
that
hinder
women’s
participation
and
advancement
in
the
financial
sector.

The
Chief
Director,
Ministry
of
Finance,
Ms
Eva
Esselba
Mends,
said
that
prioritising
the
affairs
of
women
was
the
right
thing
to
do,
adding
“we
know
that
generally,
inclusivity
is
critical
for
progress,
however,
we
also
know
that
gender
inclusivity
is
necessary.

Pre-condition
for
stable
and
sustained
transformation
of
households.”

She
was
optimistic
that
the
platform
made
up
of
collective
expertise
and
leadership
of
women
practitioners,
would
drive
positive
change
and
advancement
within
the
industry.

“It
is
my
hope
that
this
platform
will
galvanise
our
efforts
and
guide
our
paths,”
she
said.

Ms
Mends
called
on
organisers
of
the
project
to
engage
all
stakeholders
to
build
confidence,
trust,
firm
partnerships
and
demonstrate
commitment.

Head
of
Secretariat,
NETRIGHT,
Ms
Patricia
Blankson-Akakpo,
said
her
outfit
works
on
women’s
financial
inclusion
which
focuses
on
addressing
the
systematic
barriers
that
hinder
women’s
access
to
financial
services,
resources,
and
opportunities.

“This
includes
advocating
for
gender-responsive
policies
and
legislation
and
conducting
research
to
identify
and
address
the
specific
challenges
faced
by
women
in
accessing
and
participating
in
the
financial
sector,”
she
said.

She
said
to
ensure
inclusiveness,
NETRIGHT
has
committed
to
championing
economic
justice
and
gender
equality
as
fundamental
principles
of
human
rights
and
sustainable
development.

Ms
Blankson-Akakpo
said
despite
women
constituting
50.9
per
cent
of
the
population
of
Ghana,
they
were
underrepresented
in
leadership
roles
in
all
sectors,
adding
that,
according
to
PricewaterhouseCoopers
(2024),
nearly
half
of
women
in
banking
were
at
entry
level
with
only
27
per
cent
in
management.

This
disparity
in
financial
inclusion,
she
said
limited
women’s
ability
to
save,
invest
and
access
credit,
hindering
their
economic
empowerment
and
contributing
to
broader
gender
inequalities.

“This
lack
of
female
leadership
not
only
perpetuates
gender
imbalances
but
also
limits
diverse
perspectives
in
decision-making
processes,”
she
said.

Ms
Blankson-Akakpo
said
during
the
mapping
of
women
groups
under
the
project,
it
was
realised
that
although
financial
institutions
have
women
groups,
they
were
strictly
organisational
based.

“Based
on
the
above,
it
is
necessary
to
have
a
common
platform
which
would
provide
a
safe
space
for
discourse
on
financial
issues
from
a
gender
perspective
to
contribute
to
addressing
gender
gaps
within
the
finance
sector
pushing
for
policy
actions
that
promote
women’s
financial
inclusion,”
she
said.

BY
AGNES
OPOKU
SARPONG