Absa Bank promise to offer more opportunities for women

Interim Managing Director of Absa Bank Ghana, Adolph Kpegah, has stressed the bank’s commitment to break new barriers and create more opportunities for women.

This commitment, he said, was reflected in the bank’s efforts to ensure parity in salary, appoint more women to leadership positions and provide supportive services such as counselling and daycare centres. 

Mr Kpegah gave the assurance in a release issued by the bank in Accra after an event to mark International Women’s Day.

It was hosted by Absa Bank’s Women’s Network Forum and was meant to celebrate the achievements of women. It was also to help advance the conversation on how to invest in women for the development of society.

“Women led this bank to the Most Profitable Bank status on many occasions over the last decade; We have one of the best-performing business banking and corporate banking businesses across our group and possibly the fastest-growing small and medium scale enterprise (SME) businesses in our market, and these are all led by our women,” Mr Kpegah said as he showcased the significant impact of female leadership within the bank.

Invest in women

The Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, emphasised the importance of creating an inclusive environment for women and also investing in their emotional well-being. 

“Investing in women is crucial for national development. As we take the necessary steps to make this happen, especially in our workplaces, we should remember that we are dealing with something very deep. 

“Thus, in all our endeavours, we should ensure to invest in the emotional well-being of women,” she stated, highlighting a holistic approach to empowerment,” She said.

The Board Chair of Absa Bank Ghana, Frances Adu-Mante, according to the release also highlighted the importance of self-investment among women and called for sustained excellence in all endeavours. 

“Let’s aim to sustain high levels of excellence in whatever we do and make sure to invest in women if we want a sustainable society,” she urged.

Founder of L’AINE Services, Ellen Hagan; Director of Finance at Absa Bank, Munatsi Mkushi; an expert in Sustainable Finance and Responsible Investment, Nuru Mugambi; all discussed a range of issues affecting women, from emotional challenges to the need for financial inclusivity and opportunity.

Celebration

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day celebration, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” underscores the critical role women play as drivers of economic growth, agents of change and catalysts for innovation. 

The event, part of a series of initiatives by Absa to support women-led businesses and financial inclusivity, served as a clarion call for broader investment in women’s development. 

From the “Young Africa Works” to the “Inspire Me” initiative, Absa’s commitment to empowering women was clear, demonstrating a proactive approach to fostering gender equality and accelerating societal progress.