Female entrepreneurs in Ghana have been challenged to leverage the benefits of the ever-expanding digital space to grow their businesses.

At a ceremony in Accra on July 5, 2023, to unveil the nominees for the 3rd edition of the Women in Entrepreneurship Awards (WIEA), a host of speakers who spoke on the theme "Digitalization: Scaling-up Businesses in Economic Crisis" urged women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the opportunities available in the digital space in the face of the current economic crisis.

Guest Speaker for the event, Prof. Mrs. Goski Alabi, noted that digitalization in businesses serves as a flexible and transparent management tool that helps every entrepreneur to grow their business.

"What technology or digitization does is that it provides us with two key things: the first is flexibility in business, and the second is transparency in business. Digitization can help us to be more flexible to provide quality service that has significance... So digitization and scaling-up should provide us the opportunity for service with significance."

"A lot of the time, our businesses fail not because the idea is not good enough, but the idea may not be adding anything significant to what already exists," she outlined.

She further urged female entrepreneurs to learn to manage change in their fields by adopting current trends through technology.

The Chief Executive Officer of Hair Senta, Mrs. Gwyneth Gyimah Addo, encouraged entrepreneurs to be innovative in times of crisis and noted the opportunities offered by technologies such as social media.

Using her business as an example, she highlighted how she was able to navigate through the COVID-19 era.

"I told you about the fact that I had to remember who Hair Senta was; we were a brand purely built on social media, digital technology. So if such a crisis has happened, is it really the time to close shop like everybody else? Our store is online, we still do exist, we still can work. So I had to constantly remind myself and my team who we were and then push the agenda," she said.

The Project Coordinator of Pocketi, a fintech platform, Victoria Boafo Asante, also called on female entrepreneurs to see opportunities in adversities while paying serious attention to the financial management aspect of their businesses.

On the issue of financial management, the Head of Women's Desk at Ecobank Ghana, Dr. Loretta Sarpong, enlightened the attendees about the bank's Ellevate policy, tailor-made for women entrepreneurs.

According to her, there is a need for entrepreneurs to realize the need for utilizing digital tools.

"Any account we open for you, we give you digital solutions. COVID has taught us better that if you want to be in business; if you want to be relevant in this 21st Century, your business must be digitized, or else you die," she emphasized.

Aimed at celebrating industrious women in Ghana, WIEA was launched in 2021 and has since awarded women making exploits in several business fields across the country.



Speaking in an interview with the General Manager for WIEA, Emma-Marie Deeku, emphasized the need to recognize hardworking female entrepreneurs in the country.

"WIEA seeks to recognize hardworking women entrepreneurs in Ghana. We do not only recognize them, but we also give them recognition awards. Last year, WIEA did not only award the winner but also gave recognition certificates to about 120 nominees. This year we are looking forward to doing the same because it is not just about awarding but also recognition all over," she noted.

Ahead of this year's award ceremony, the scheme has set out to recognize 100 women entrepreneurs across the country.

Some beneficiaries include Oheneyere Gifty Anti, who is the chairperson of WIEA. Delivering her address at the nominees unveiling and Ellevate summit, Oheneyere Gifty Anti challenged women entrepreneurs to avoid being complacent.

"Receiving an honor, and I say this as somebody who has over sixty awards to my name, is not just about the award but what it means. Every time you are honored, it means we are watching you; we expect more from you. It doesn't mean that you have arrived; it means that you have a lot more to do. So it is an honor to be nominated, and on the day when you win the award, it will be an extra burden on you to do more. So congratulations to all of you," she told the nominees.

In all, over 100 female entrepreneurs were announced as nominees for various categories in the 2023 WIEA. At the event, a special awards scheme aimed at honoring exceptional young Ghanaians was also launched.

Dubbed the Exceptional Under 25 Awards, the scheme targets Ghanaians under the age of 25 who are making exploits in various fields.

Speaking about the youth-targeted scheme, Emma-Marie Deeku said the organizers hope to shine a light on exceptional young Ghanaians to empower them.

"We want to recognize the youngsters out there to let them know that yes, we see them. It's not always about the old people," she said.

Board members of the new Exceptional Under 25 Awards include award-winning blogger Kobby Kyei, Jambo of Lizjambo enterprise the chairperson of Exceptional under 25, Dr. Kwabena Amponsah Koduah, Miss Sylvia Tweneboah-Koduah CEO, and Miss Emma-Marie Deeku Senior Steward.

See full list of WIEA 2023 nominees below:

WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Ruth nana Amissah
Judith Amoabeng
Lesley Aidoo Mensah
Jahzara Agyemang
Fredaline Asiedu
Pearl Obenewaa Sackey
Gwen Addo
Nina Kwadanaab
Barbara Narkie Afadi
Priscilla Mawuena Abotsi
Patience Akatu
Taneka Kahilia Sawadogo
Ernestina Oware
Eyetsa Lorraine Ocloo
Alberta Ablordeppey
Annie Vidzah

WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR UNDER 25 OF THE YEAR

Elizabeth Oti Ameyaa
Maame Dufie Akosah-Yiadom
Ruby Mankoe
Atwere Princess Yeboah
Sasha Amanfu

STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Belinda Obour Mensah
Winnifred Effah-Pokuah
Gifty Frimpong
Mary Boakye
Amina Musah
Magdaline Comfort Asirifi

INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Ubigid
Princess Jewel Andy-Asare
Mary Amponsah
Patience Akatu
Ivana M Cobbinah
Sandra Bentil
Dora Vander Bosscher
Pearl Obenewaa Sackey

PERSON WITH DISABILITY (PWD) ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Justine Ohemaa Afia Mauda
Akosua Joyce

MADE IN GHANA PRODUCT OF THE YEAR

Selina Bebaako Mensah
Honorable Couture (Adlyne Oforiwaa Ennuson)
Shirely Irene Thompson
Afia Kwakyewaa Agyapong Kwakye
May Senam Gblorkpor
Awakn Black Soap (Janet Nyarko)
Princess Ama Burland
Ruby Mudey

FAMILY BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Nana Baaba Fynnba Quartey
Emmanuella Lamisi Safian

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Lesley Aidoo Mensah
Dorothy Afi Amelor
Shirely Irene Thompson
Narkie Nartey
Joyce Apoasaan Jambeidu
Awurama Kena-Asiedu
Anita Tetteh

AGRI-WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Princess Jewel Andy-Asare
Nana Baaba Fynnba Quartey
Edna Ama Mensah

MOST PROMISING ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Love Emefa Blebu-Honu
Elizabeth Agyapong
Veronica Agbosu
Semabiah Charlotte
Akosuah fremah
Rev.Dr.Jennifer Donkor
Bintu Abdul Rahman
Alice Frimpomaa Boateng
Joyce Apoasaan Jambeidu
Abigail Sefa Bonsu
Dr Samuela Bediako
Bernice Effah Adjei
Anita Tetteh
Janrita Serwaa Sefa
Naana Adobea Yeboah
Veronica Adjoa Ocansey
Duru Ijeoma ifeyinwa
Elizabeth Baabotin
Atwere Princess Yeboah
Janet Nyarko
Elizabeth Adarkwa Yiadom
Gettyberth Anointin
Veronica Ewode Agbosu
Alberta Makafui Adortsu

HEALTH & WELL-BEING ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Patience Serwaa Okrah
Dr Hannah-Lisa Tetteh
Akua Boatemaa Oppong-Attah
Dr Mary Dede Ansong
Magdaline Comfort Asirifi

REAL-ESTATE DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR

Ruth nana Amissah
Cassie Serwaa

FOOD ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Georgia Ginger Owusu Aniwaa
Doris Kronzu
Salomey Fafali Opoku-Agyemang
Adwoa Banson
Mrs Adeleine Amegbedzi
Emma Osei Dankwa
Abigail Adu Poku
Jessie Yartey
Ornella Sparks
Mfonabasi Utibe Udofia
Nana Aba Konamah Lartey

BEVERAGE BRAND OF THE YEAR

Akoma Brew
Patience Tamara Yormesah
Barbara Narkie Afadi
Victoria Yaa Asantewaa Katamani
Abigail Akua Addae-Williams
Veronica Adjoa Ocansey

FASHION ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Annie Vidzah
Lois Fordjour
Thirrienne Apetsi
Selina Bebaako Mensah
Fredaline Asiedu
Dede Doe
Ulgar Appertey
Hilda Elikem Ameen
EmpressMAK Clothing
Gifty Quarcoo

BEAUTY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Albertha Bossman
Loretta Adusu
Ghislaine Nana Akua Boateng
Hilda Amankwah Yeboah
Kpogli Thywill
Elizabeth Baabotin
Princess Ama Burland
Shulamite Kuntu Blankson
Rhoda Asante

CREATIVE INDUSTRY ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Ann Boakye Agyemang
Justine Ohemaa Afia Mauda
Deborah Osei
Adlyne Oforiwaa Ennuson
Abimbola Bashiru-Salako
Annie Offeogbu
Ernestina Oware

MICRO/ SMALL BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Elizabeth Agyapong
Mina Asibu
Shulammite Abena Arkoh
Rachael Dedei Attoh
Jennifer Nana Akua Sarpong
Esther Bangbenu
Vicentia Esinam Bedzo
Asare joyce
Lily Oware
Christabel Ofori
Peace Afi Dogbatsey

MEDIUM/LARGE BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Nana Aba Konamah Lartey
Marita Adjovu
Franklina Amoro
Akua Aboabea Aboah

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Rachael Mensah
Hanna Atiase
Esther Addo
Franklina Amoro

SCALE-UP ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Judith Amoabeng
Alice Frimpong Sarkodie
Rita Duah
Tiffany Kpornu-Dawson

BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR

Rev.Dr.Jennifer Donkor
Agyeiwaa
Esther Naa Ankrah
Sandra Darkoa Ofori

FINANCIAL SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

Ernestina Arhin Mensah
Georgia Ginger Owusu Aniwaa

PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Mrs Patience Abekah
Serwah Siaw

MOST INSPIRING WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR

Grace Quarshie
Marie-Victorie Amuzu
Joyce Idun
Christiana Enyonam Attipoe
Deladem Agartha Mensah