Bank of Africa, CGIA Institute partners on Women in Finance & Investment Summit    

As part of its commitment to promoting Gender Equality Bank of Africa, partnered the Chartered Global Investment Analyst (CGIA) Institute to organize the Women in Finance & Investment Summit at Erata Hotel – East Legon, Accra.

It was explained that the CGIA Institute is the world’s largest and globally recognized professional body providing approved designation for the investment and financial services industry. The summit brought together corporate women and students for networking and mentorship.

In a speech which was read on behalf of DMD of Bank of Africa Fatoumata Gakou, restated the Bank’s commitment towards women inclusion in all spheres of live, especially in business.

She further emphasized that as a Bank, we have a tailor-made product such as our SME facility known as the SME Support Facility (SSF) which is a short term unsecured financing facility available for our Bank’s SME customers who are credit-worthy but lack the necessary documentation and collateral to access credit facility from Banks.

In her speech she stressed that these customers which consist of wholesalers, traders, retailers who are mostly women are often short of the needed working capital during certain times of the year due mainly to cash flow challenges of their businesses, the timing of receipts and payments, seasonal trends in the business etc.

According to her, she said, “another way that Bank of Africa supports women inclusion is by empowering them to be in control of their businesses. These we do by offering advisory services on efficient bookkeeping and general records keeping among others.

This we believe helps to preserve the safety of their money and also enhances their worthiness whiles they seek to expand their businesses.”

Mrs Gakou underscored that the Bank is fully aware of its responsibilities to society and the strong pillars of society which she believes are women. It is therefore not surprising that our Bank focuses on support for women and children as one of its key CSR pillars.

Also speaking at the Summit, CEO of GFA Consulting Limited Carole Ramella stressed that female employees should remember that, they are employed to give out their best and must, therefore, ask questions and challenge the status quo and not necessarily take instructions.

The event was also involved a panel discussion with Executive Head, Treasury, BANK OF AFRICA, Mrs Akofa Dakwa, Chief Investment Officer, Databank, Deborah Armah Akotey, GM, Treasury, NIB  Ama B. Ghartey and Vice President, Investcorp, Christabel N. Okantey.

They discussed topics such as finance, diversity and how women can achieve success in their various fields of endeavours.

However, participants were urged to take inspiration from the panel assembled for the event, as a clear indication that there is space for women at the top and a manifestation that the gender disparity in corporate leadership in Ghana can be bridged.