Women urged not to tick all the boxes at the Women’s Connect Summit 2026

Former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Akosua Manu, has urged young women aspiring to take up leadership positions to remain teachable and embrace mentorship as they develop their skills.

Speaking to the media at the Women’s Connect Summit, themed Women Leading Change and organised by AliceTalkWorld and Leadership House, she said platforms that expose young women to experienced leaders can help them build confidence and prepare for greater opportunities.

According to Akosua Manu, the platform provides an opportunity for young women who believe they can achieve more to receive training, interact with speakers, and engage with people they admire in leadership and public service.

“The platform AliceTalkWorld and Leadership House have created is a powerful one where young girls who feel they have the capacity to attain bigger things get to be trained. They get to engage with speakers and shape them and, most importantly, they also get to engage with people like me, who they see in the political space and admire as well,” she said.

Akosua Manu further described the summit as a stepping stone for the young participants, noting that the impact of the programme could extend beyond the event itself.

“So today is just a stepping stone, and they are going to continue to do so. The feedback from the girls themselves is encouraging. They said, ‘I thought I had confidence until I was put in a certain situation.’ Now they are sure that they have what it takes,” she added.

She also encouraged young women not to be discouraged if they do not possess every quality or qualification they believe is required for leadership.

“You don’t have to tick all the boxes, but what you have to do is to be teachable. That way, as you are learning and you’re going and you’re being mentored, you get to be a better version of yourself,” she said.

She added that initiatives such as AliceTalkWorld and Leadership House provide an important combination of mentorship, exposure, and leadership development for young women seeking to make an impact.

“Platforms like this, AliceTalkWorld, together with Leadership House, are a very powerful combination,” she said.

Alice Yakubu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AliceTalkWorld, also encouraged the young women to carry the lessons from the summit into their everyday lives, stressing that leadership does not necessarily require a formal position or title.

“As a young founder, I am still learning and growing too. But watching these ladies speak, share their ideas, and find confidence in themselves reminds me why I keep building. To our graduates, I am proud of you. Thank you for showing up, and thank you for making time to learn and trusting us to be part of your journey,” she said.

She urged the participants to use the knowledge and confidence gained from the programme to pursue opportunities and create an impact in their communities.

“My hope is that you carry this experience into everything you do. Speak up, pursue opportunities, and use what you have learned to make a difference. You do not need a title before you lead, and you all know that’s my mantra. So go out there and lead without titles,” she added.

The event, held at the Ghana Communication Technology University, saw hundreds of ambitious young women gather to gain knowledge from some of Ghana’s notable personalities, including Akosua Manu, Ross Osei Owusu (AG Executive Director, LH), Kezia Asiedua Sanie Kermah (President of the Future Organisation), Gyimaah Larbi (Teacher, Author and Global Speaker), Anna Wasserfall (KAS Resident Representative Office), and others.

Musician Dr Cyrme also thrilled participants with his impressive talent.

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