Former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), Mrs. Kosi Antwiwaa Yankey-Ayeh, has called on women occupying leadership and influential positions to be deliberate in supporting and empowering the next generation of female leaders.
Speaking at the 2026 Annual National Summit of the Young African Women Congress Network Ghana Chapter held in Accra yesterday, Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh stressed the need for senior women to actively create opportunities for younger women to thrive and gain recognition for their efforts.
According to her, many young women across various sectors are working diligently and making significant contributions, yet their achievements often go unnoticed due to the lack of intentional mentorship, sponsorship, and advocacy from women in leadership positions.
“We have to be intentional about empowering young women; nobody is going to do that for us. We have to stand for ourselves,” she told participants at the summit.
Drawing from her personal experience, Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh revealed that during her tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, she made a conscious effort to promote gender inclusion within the organization. She noted that her deputy was a woman and that approximately 70 percent of her management team were women.
Speaking on the summit’s theme, “The Next Generation of African Women: Driving Innovation and Redefining Leadership,” she emphasized the importance of unity, collaboration, and mutual support among women.
She encouraged women to move away from unnecessary and unhealthy competition and instead work together to achieve collective progress.
Mrs. Yankey-Ayeh also urged young women to be proactive in creating opportunities for themselves while continuously investing in personal and professional development. She advised them to acquire new skills, expand their networks, and position themselves for greater responsibilities and leadership roles.
Highlighting the growing importance of innovation in today’s rapidly evolving world, she noted that embracing creativity, adaptability, and forward-thinking solutions remains essential for success.
The summit brought together young women, professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders from various sectors to discuss strategies for advancing women’s leadership, innovation, and economic empowerment across Africa.
