Telecel Ghana recently hosted the second edition of its highly anticipated Women 100 Power Connect event, celebrating the achievements and resilience of women who have taken unconventional career paths. The event, held as the highlight of the telecommunications company’s International Women’s Month celebrations, brought together 100 influential women from diverse sectors to network, connect, and collaborate.
With the theme “The Road Less Travelled,” the event focused on women who have made bold career choices and successfully navigated obstacles that often prevent women from entering male-dominated fields.
Notable speakers included Ghana’s third female Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, the second female Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service, DGP Patience Baffoe-Bonnie ESQ, and Dr. Lina Sowah, the first female Operations Director at Tullow Oil Ghana. These distinguished figures shared personal stories of perseverance, courage, and the importance of fostering leadership among women. In her opening remarks, Telecel Ghana CEO Patricia Obo-Nai emphasized the need for a supportive ecosystem that empowers women to dream big, challenge norms, and pave the way for others.
“We believe that by sharing stories of grit, courage, and passion, accomplished women can create a roadmap for younger women to follow,” said Obo-Nai. “At Telecel, we see the power of these stories to transform futures and empower generations of women.”
The Women 100 Power Connect is part of Telecel’s Women in Business initiative, aimed at creating a nurturing ecosystem for women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This initiative offers tailored resources such as loans, insurance, rewards, capacity-building opportunities, and greater visibility.
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo shared her journey from Cape Coast to the top of Ghana’s judiciary, highlighting the influence of her father at each stage of her rise. DGP Patience Baffoe-Bonnie recalled the challenges she faced in joining the Prisons Service in 1987 and her 37-year journey to leadership. Dr. Lina Sowah, the first woman to head operations at Tullow Oil, spoke about the challenges she faced as a geologist in the extractive sector while balancing family life, stressing the importance of staying focused and building a supportive network.
The event also featured a traditional poetry recital, celebrating the triumphs and challenges of women forging their own paths, as well as a candle-lighting ceremony symbolizing the way forward for more women to follow in their footsteps.
The networking sessions that followed allowed attendees to engage in intimate conversations focused on empowering women in leadership and forging lasting connections to drive future success.
As part of Telecel’s Women in Business initiative, the Women 100 Power Connect aims to cultivate meaningful connections and empower women leaders to collaborate and advance each other’s success. Telecel Ghana continues to demonstrate its commitment to gender equity and the growth of women-led businesses across the country.
Tawa Bolarin, Director of Enterprise Business at Telecel Ghana, noted that highlighting women who have chosen non-traditional career paths helps break down barriers and expands possibilities for others. She encouraged more women to join the network and sign up for the Women in Business initiative to accelerate their enterprises.
“Our CEO is one of the women on the road less travelled, managing a multi-billion-dollar telecom company. I urge all women to support Telecel by joining the network and helping female-led businesses grow,” Bolarin said.
