The climax of the much-anticipated women’s choice awards was a night of honor and celebration of the achievement of elegant and industrious women in the country. This year’s event marks the 4th edition of the prestigious awards ceremony which was under the theme “Digitalization — the New Phase of Women Empowerment, the Unstoppable Woman, Breaking the Bias to Advance Inclusive Leadership and Elevation”.
The event, which was held at the lush Labadi beach hotel saw the presentation of awards to female personalities and brands in the areas of marketing, finance, community advocacy, entertainment, fashion, and food to name but just a few. Some
Speaking in a media interview, CEO of Global Ovations, and organizer of the event, Mr Gideon Raji acknowledged the immense contributions of women in the developing country and as such the need to recognize and award such personalities.
“The Women's Choice Awards Africa, a Global Ovations event aims at inspiring the next generation of women who will be a force of positive change and excellence in the world. That is why this year’s edition is under the theme: “Digitalization— the New Phase of Women Empowerment; the Unstoppable Woman, Breaking the Bias to Advance Inclusive Leadership and Elevation.”
Yes! this is a mouthful. But every word in this theme is noteworthy to the purpose we are running this year. Our commitment is to continue the cause of empowering women in every good way possible. We do not see women's empowerment as a celebration, but as a movement – an everyday operation channeled at liberating women and girls in Ghana, in Africa, from the mental chains of inferiority and limitation” Mr. Raji said.
He also mentioned the importance of the awards as an encouragement for young girls who have high aspirations.
Freda Yahan Duplan, board chair for Zenith Bank was honored for their astounding leadership in the banking and finance sector over the years.
She joins a host of other awardees which include but are not limited to Antoinette Kwofie – CFO MTN, Actress Jackie Appiah, General Manager -Zenith Bank Maebelle Denya Nortey, Marketing Director -Uniliver Nana Yaa Owusu Ansah, media mogul and community advocate Oheneryere Gifty Anti, Penelope M. Jones Mensah – founder 40 roses foundation. Brands like Unilever, Komos Innovation center, and Access Bank to name a few were also awarded for their contributions to the development of the Ghanaian woman.
A total of 64 awardees were honored at the end of the event with several of them expressing their gratitude for the recognition by the organizers of the event, Global Ovation Africa, and sponsors which include GRA cosmetics, Tasty tomatoes past and Onga
Please see below the full list of award winners for the night.
HONOUREE FULL DETAILS LIST
1. Excellence in leadership and sustainability
NANA YAA OWUSU-ANSAH
(Marketing Director, Beauty & Personal Care, Unilever Ghana Limited)
2. Excellence in FMCG Award
FATIMA ALI MOHAMED
(CEO, African Brand Warrior)
3. Excellence in Social Protection
LAURETTE KORKOR OTCHERE, Esq.
(Deputy Director-General of SSNIT)
4. Excellence in Corporate Communications Award
SOPHIA KUDZORDJI
(Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Jospong Group of Companies)
5. Events icon of the year
DR. AFI AMORO
(Chief Executive Officer, Jandel Limited)
6. Youth Empowerment Organization of the Year
KOSMOS INNOVATION CENTRE
7. Empowerment of Rural Women
UNILEVER SONGTAA PROJECT
8. Ultimate woman in leadership award of the year – banking
FREDA YAHAN DUPLAN
(Board Chair - Zenith Bank (Ghana) Limited
9. Ultimate woman in leadership – health insurance
MAAME AFRIYIE BOACHIE
(CEO, Glico Healthcare)
10. Transformational leader of the year –banking
PEARL NKRUMAH
(Executive Director, Retail and Digital Banking, Access Bank Ghana Plc.)
11. Media excellence award
OHENEYERE GIFTY ANTI
(Journalist/ Author)
12. Excellence in Event Logistics
SENA CHERI
Proprietor, Cheriel Rentals)
13. Woman-Led Innovative Company of The Year
SAMBUS GEOSPATIAL
14. Women Empowerment Brand of the Year
SUNLIGHT SHERO
15. Woman-Led Company of the Year – Sanitation
AFRICA ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION CONSULT (AfES Consult)
16. CFO of the year
ANTOINETTE KWOFIE
Chief Finance Officer at MTN Ghana)
17. Star with purpose award
JACKIE APPIAH
(Actress/Brand Ambassador)
18. Woman of Impact Award
PENELOPE M. JONES-MENSAH Esq.
(Founder, 40 Roses Foundation)
19. Excellence In Legal Relations
JOYCE A. BAWAH MOGTARI Esq.
(Special Assistant to H.E John Mahama)
20. Excellence in leadership award - marketing
PATIENCE OFORIWA MPEREH
(Marketing Director, Wilmar Africa)
21. Excellence in diaspora affairs
MARINA LAMPTEY
(Head of the Diaspora Investment Desk, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC))
22. Women’s Choice Brand of the Year –
PEPSODENT
23. Excellence in Promoting Women Leaders
JOSPONG GROUP OF COMPANIES
24. Transformational leader of the year – youth empowerment
BENJAMIN GYAN-KESSE
(Executive Director of Kosmos Innovation Center
25. Transformational Leader of The Year – Finance
MAEBELLE DENYA NORTEY
(General Manager – Zenith Bank (Ghana) Limited)
26. Exemplary woman in leadership
NANA YAA OWUSU-ANSAH
(Marketing Director, Beauty & Personal Care, Unilever Ghana Limited.)
27. Outstanding creative director of the year
LAUREN HANSON
(CEO, Laurenhaute Couture)
28. Exceptional Woman of The Year
SHARON ACHEAMPONG
(CEO, Eya Naturals)
29. Media icon of the year
BERLA MUNDI
(Media Personality)
30. Woman of Excellence – Film Production
SAMIRA YAKUBU
(Movie Producer)
31. Women’s Banking Initiative of the Year - Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton
ACCESS BANK GHANA PLC
32. Ultimate woman of the year – entrepreneurship
JANE REASON AHADZIE
(CEO, JRA Cosmetics)
33. Trailblazer in cosmetology award
FAUSTINA ADOFO ADJAGAR
(CEO of First Choice Hair & Beauty)
34. Voice of women award
AKUMAA MAMA ZIMBI
(Television and Radio Broadcast Journalist)
35. Brand communication personality of the year-culinary
EVA NJERI
(Culinary Category Lead, Promasidor
36. The woman behind the scenes award
AFEAFA NFOJOH
(TV Producer/Director)
37. Excellence in leadership (medical laboratory services
GEORGETTE MARFO PEPRAH
(Head of the Diaspora Investment Desk, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC))
38. Excellence in Event Management
JANETTE DUAH
(Chief Operations Officer and Lead Creative of Jandel Limited)
39. Excellence in Promoting Women Leaders
JOSPONG GROUP OF COMPANIES
40. Man, Empowering Women Award
YOFI GRANT
(CEO, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC))
41. Excellence in sanitation advocacy
DR. ABENA ASOMANING ANTWI
(Managing Director and Lecturer – Africa Environmental Sanitation Consult (AfES Consult))