Women should not allow motherhood to diminish their professional value, broadcaster and General Manager of Sompa FM, Akosua Ago Aboagye, has said.

Speaking at the second edition of Convergence of Mothers, organised by media personality MzGee, Ago Aboagye urged women to distinguish themselves professionally and become indispensable in their workplaces, particularly when navigating maternity leave and career progression.

Responding to concerns about women who return from maternity leave only to discover that their roles have changed or their positions have been filled, she advised mothers to focus on excellence and continuous self-development.

“Be so valuable that your absence will be felt,” she said.

According to her, employees who consistently demonstrate exceptional performance create a void when they are away, making their contributions difficult to overlook.

“You are not just an ordinary employee. You are exceptional. You go the extra mile. You have added value to yourself,” she told participants.

Joining the discussion, Chief Executive Officer of Star Assurance Limited, Boatemaa Duffour Barfour-Awuah, encouraged women not to view motherhood and career growth as mutually exclusive.

“You can’t stop having kids,” she said. “They are a blessing from God, and they are your legacy.”

Boatemaa Duffour stressed the importance of developing unique skills and competencies that set women apart in the workplace.

“Make sure your skill set is different from everybody,” she advised.

She shared a personal experience from her first pregnancy, recalling that both she and her personal assistant became pregnant around the same time, creating concern within the organisation about the temporary absence of two key staff members.

After taking time off, she deliberately worked hard to re-establish her presence and demonstrate her commitment to the business.

According to her, while organisations should have fair human resource policies to protect mothers, women must also recognise the importance of building expertise and maintaining professional standards.

“Your skill set can never be the same as somebody else’s,” she said.

The two speakers agreed that although maternity leave is a necessary and important phase of motherhood, women should continue investing in their personal growth and professional development to ensure they remain valuable contributors within their organisations.

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