8th National Women’s Summit & Expo 2026: Driving leadership, policy action and financial inclusion

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2026, the 8th edition of the National Women’s Summit & Expo (NWSE) convened on Friday, 13th March, bringing together Ghana’s leading women policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry experts for a day of dialogue, collaboration, and actionable insights.

Organised by Charterhouse Productions, the summit was supported by its partners:

Lead Sponsor, Geisha; Strategic Partner, MTN Ghana; Supporting Sponsors, Standard Chartered Bank, Enterprise Life, BAYPORT Management, and PayAngel; as well as donors including Mnotify, Coca-Cola, Blue Skies, Kivo, the GC Brand, and GB Foods.

Hosted at The Palms Convention Centre, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra, the summit became a vibrant hub for connection, knowledge-sharing, and purpose-driven engagement, capturing the spirit of International Women’s Day and reaffirming the national commitment to women’s empowerment.

Affirmative Action Act: Progress and Next Steps

Becky Enyonam Ahadzi, Coordinator of the Affirmative Action Law Coalition, provided a comprehensive update on Ghana’s Affirmative Action Act, highlighting both progress and ongoing challenges.

Key highlights included:

Legislative Milestone: Passed on July 30, 2024, following decades of advocacy in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection

Targets for Representation: 30% by 2026, 35% by 2028, and 50% (full parity) by 2034

Implementation Progress: A Gender Equity Committee and Secretariat are operational, with the Legislative Instrument expected before Parliament

Tangible Results: Increased appointments of women in senior public service roles, including the Fire Service and Prison Service

Challenges: Representation in Parliament (14.85%) and local government (4.1%) remains low. Next Steps: Advocacy for gender-specific quotas within the constitutional review process

She noted that while the legal framework is now established, its success will depend on effective implementation and measurable impact.

A National Call to Action: Hon. Nana Oye Bampoe Addo

Delivering the keynote as Special Guest of Honour, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), anchored the summit in policy, progress, and national responsibility.

“Countries that invest in women’s economic empowerment grow faster, innovate more, and build stronger societies.”

She acknowledged Ghana’s progress, noting that women make up over 63% of the labour force and perform strongly across sectors, but emphasised that real impact lies in translating policy into opportunity.

“Passing laws is important, but progress is measured by whether those laws change the lives of women and girls.”



She highlighted the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act and the National Gender Policy (2025–2034) as critical frameworks, while stressing the need for accountability, enforcement, and expanded access.