Energy Bank MD/CEO backs policy to narrow gender pay disparity

Energy Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Christiana Ekaete Olaoye, has called on government to make deliberate policy that will bridge the pay disparity between men and women.

According to Mrs. Olaoye, the practice whereby men earn higher than women even though they may be doing the same job is widespread and not only limited to Ghana.

“This is a disparity that has been long entrenched over time and it is through how we educate both male and female in society hoping there will be a gradual winding down of that disparity

“So one of the things we need to be talking about is how do we shorten this disparity in pay structure for instance between female CEOs and their male counterparts and that comes with education; that comes with continuing to push government and the recognition that women are also leaders and are also influential leaders in every case and everywhere,” she said.

The need to correct the disparity, Mrs. Ekaete said, must be on the top burner of the presidency. While admitting that urgency is needed to address the situation, she further cautions that the approach must be a sustainable one as the disparity cannot be addressed overnight.

Mrs. Olaoye, who was speaking to the B&FT after she received recognition from the All Africa Media Network (AAMN) for her role in supporting economic welfare and the development of the African girl-child, commended the President Nana Akufo-Addo for putting women in key areas of his government.

The award christened: “Hero of Women & Child Rights Support,” from the All Africa Media Network endorsed by UNESCO, was to recognise the banker’s output in women development and professionalism in executing her duty without any cultural bias on the African continent.

Over the years, Mrs. Olaoye has pioneered two NGOs all in her native Nigeria where she also has orphanages where she takes in girls and provides for their education, making sure that they get the best of it.

“I support them moving beyond secondary school, moving to universities not just that but studying subjects that will actually benefit womankind at the end of the day. I put them in positions where they can be physicians, lawyers; where they can be in charge of finances, accountants, etc. all in the bit to ensure that women are also self-sufficient,” she added.

With immense experience in banking on the African continent and the United Kingdom, Mrs Olaoye said she believes the award would encourage her more to deliver on her objectives and set targets.

“I want to thank those behind the award but I believe that if they had monetised this and put it into a fund where we could promote the education of the girl-child, that would have meant more to me at the end of the day than to give me a plaque or trophy, I thank them for it all the same but there is the need to do more for women,” she added.