COHORT ONE
Year Book 2019
COHORT INTRODUCTION
The first cohort of the AWE program in Ghana celebrated the graduation of 30 female entrepreneurs, marking a significant milestone in their journey to success.”
PROFILES
NAME: Emma Adumea Boateng
EMAIL: [email protected]
Emma Adumea Boateng has over two years’ experience as a baker and cake artist in the Cake Industry of Bemma Cakes and More in Ghana’s Eastern Region. During this period, my main focus has been on the production of delicious and tasty cakes and pastries with reduced sugar content for working women who want to satisfy their party and other celebration needs. Mrs. Boateng is passionate about promoting delicious low-sugar content cakes and pastries as a business for herself, and has plans to train young women who may show interest in learning her business in her locality as well as influence their personal development and hone their leadership skills. Emma holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Ghana, Legon. She will spend 14 (fourteen) weeks at YALI RLC Accra for the AWE Program. Upon completion of the AWE Program, her objective is to use the new models and ideas that she will gain to ensure the growth and development of her organization
NAME: Elizabeth Ohenewaa Ampofo
EMAIL: [email protected]
As a young person, I have learnt how to use my skills to solve societal problems in business. I am a social entrepreneur, and the Managing Director / Co-Founder of Chardson Shea Butter (C.S.B). Chardson Shea Butter offers natural Grade A shea butter from the northern part of Ghana. Our clients approach us when they are in need or looking for affordable and quality shea butter products for small to medium-sized purposes. We also sell our natural shea butter in the marketplace, hospitals, and many other places. Our product is unique in the market because of its texture and quality. I have been in
this business for the past two (2) years and making waves in the Ghanaian market. Our products are beneficial to both the body and skin.
NAME: Rachael N.K. Opoku
EMAIL: [email protected]
Rachael is a passionate pastry chef. Her passion for baking began during her childhood days when she loved to bake for her friends and family. She had her secondary school education at De-World International Secondary School in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She later proceeded to
Accra Polytechnic where she studied Marketing and then to the University of Cape Coast to study Business Management. She is a graduate of Scafa Chef School in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she trained as a professional pastry chef. She currently runs a home bakery called Randa Cakes and More. Her specialties are cakes, pastries, and desserts. Her goal for the next five years is to have a modern bakery with an international standard and also to run a professional chef school to train aspiring chefs in Ghana.
NAME: Patience Owusu Kissiedu
EMAIL: [email protected]
Patience is the CEO of Peema Naturals, a company that produces natural skincare and hair products for all skin types. She is also the founder of Sweetness Hospitality, an organization that seeks the well-being of women in the community through free training in cakes and pastries making. Patience’s aspiration is to grow her business to become the best brand in Ghana and the world as a whole by the year 2025. She holds a certificate in Catering 812/1 and 812/2 from the Kumasi Polytechnic and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from Ghana Institute of Public Administration (GIMPA). She has been an entrepreneur for the past six years and hopes to achieve more knowledge and expertise through the AWE program.
NAME: Rosemond Appiah
EMAIL: [email protected]
Rosemond Appiah is the founder of RoseGlitz Ltd, a specialist handcrafted beaded apparel and art company established in 2010. She has been CEO of the company after her experience in human resource management and banking at Standard Chartered Bank. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Resource Development from the University of Ghana, with a host of other certificates in Leadership and Export Business from the International Trade Centre. Her passion for women’s advancement led her to establish RoseGlitz Foundation, which has equipped over 200 women and girls in employable vocational skills. Rosemond aims at growing her company to be among the best ten (10) fashion apparel exporters by value in Africa by 2025.
NAME: Sumaya Adams-Attah
EMAIL: [email protected]
Sumaya Adams-Attah has over 10 years’ experience in management and six years’ experience as an entrepreneur. She is currently the CEO of Design Boulevard in Accra, Ghana. She started on this journey of entrepreneurship with a burning desire to have her own. Her main focus has been providing affordable interior and exterior designs for young people, startups, homes and offices. She is passionate about interior designing and wants to share this with the world. Traditional interior design has always been too expensive for most people. Design Boulevard is here to fill the gap and make beautiful spaces on a budget. Also, she has plans to be a household name in Ghana and beyond, providing employment for the youth as well as being a global shaper. Sumaya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and is currently pursuing a Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy at the University of Ghana, Legon. She hopes to utilize the new skills that she will gain to ensure the growth of her company and inspire young people to do same.
NAME: Esther Calista Afia Sarfo
EMAIL: [email protected]
Esther Calista Afia Sarfo has over four years’ experience working in digital communications and client service management. Her focus has been using digital medium to bring products closer to customers. As a result of this, Esther founded Lista Food, an online grocery to narrow the gap between imported and locally produced food staples in Ghana. Esther holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with special focus on human resource management. Esther is passionate about using agriculture as a tool for socioeconomic development. She uses her position to facilitate digital training for women startups and broadening the scope of young women in business. Her long-term goal is to use agribusiness as a means to address youth
unemployment, entrepreneurship and explore the opportunities related to government’s agriculture initiative “planting for food and jobs”. Through this, she hopes to contribute to the socioeconomic growth of women and Ghana as a whole.
NAME: Elikem Eyi Djokoto
EMAIL: [email protected]
Elikem Eyi Djokoto holds a Higher National Diploma in fashion design and textiles from the Accra Technical University. She has a passion to serve and in so doing, has served as a treasurer for both the local and district youth group of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. She started Rhythmz of Styles to enable her pursue her passion of producing garments for both male and female clients. She operates the micro business from home and hopes to acquire new skills, through AWE, to increase her clientelle and set up a fully operational establishment away from home.
NAME: Sheila Antwiwaa Owusu
EMAIL: [email protected]
Antwiwaa Owusu is the Manager of Shennaba Ventures in Accra. She has been in the wholesale and retail of plastic products for over two years now. Her focus has been on getting new products to always meet the demand of her customers to better serve them. Sheila has developed an interest in the production of plastics and hopes to have her own manufacturing company in the medium to long term. She has learned to develop her skills in leadership and management. Sheila holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance from Central University in Accra, Ghana. She will spend 14 weeks at the YALI RLC on GIMPA campus for the AWE program. Upon her completion of the AWE program, her focus is to use the DreamBuilder online program modules and ideas that she will gain to make changes for growth and improve her business.
NAME: Fafape Ama Etsa Foe
EMAIL: [email protected]
Fafape has over ten years’ experience in the field of Accounting, Administration and Management. She is currently the CEO of E90 Ghana Ltd, where she is leading a team to revitalize the environment and the economy by reusing sawdust and rice bran from saw/rice mills to produce mushrooms for a healthy food option. In doing so, she is creating job opportunities for women and the youth in Ghana and promoting SDGs 2, 3 and 13. Fafape is also the founder of Women In Value Addition (WIVA) International, an NGO that focuses on research, capacity building and advocacy for women in the value addition chain of agricultural products. Fafape holds an Mphil n Accounting from the University of Ghana, an International Business Certificate from Temple University, USA and an Executive Education Certificate from Yale School of Management. Upon completion of the AWE program, she plans, within the next five years, to create more innovative solutions to promote economic empowerment for 100,000 rural women for better family life.
NAME: Grace Amoaki Archer
EMAIL: [email protected]
Grace Amoaki Archer is a Senior Administrative Officer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) with over 11 years’ work experience. She is also the CEO of Janelle Beauty Salon (a sisterlock consultant) and also owns Mumsnet Nutrition, which has a network of over 200 mothers and caregivers she assists with world standard nutrition. She produces dates powder, which is a substitute for sugar, reducing the risk of sugar-related diseases. She also produces weight gain cereals for kids. Grace is a passionate women and children advocate. She hopes to empower women through skills training. Her aim is to write and publish books on child nutrition and women empowerment. She holds a BA degree in Information Studies and Sociology from the University of Ghana and an MBA in Project Management from GIMPA. She intends to use the new ideas gained from the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program to ensure growth and development in her business.
NAME: Tracy Sena Yeboah
EMAIL: [email protected]
Tracy Sena Yeboah is a relationship manager with over nine years’ experience in the banking sector. During this period, her main focus has been on financial advisory services and growing of the bank’s business by identifying new sales and business development opportunities. Being very passionate about the health and fitness of women and children, Tracy was inspired to start a fitness company; TNYOU Fitness. Her vision is to eradicate obesity in Ghana. Since inception, her company has helped diverse women with the support and motivation needed to live a healthy lifestyle. In line with her vision of promoting a healthy lifestyle, Tracy has also introduced her own brand of yogurt, TNYOU Healthy Yoghurt. Tracy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Ghana, Legon and a Master’s degree in Finance from Coventry University. She is also a certified nutrition and fitness
trainer from the international sports science association.
NAME: Laudicia Arthur Woode
EMAIL: [email protected]
Laudicia Arthur Woode has over five years’ experience as a bead maker at Maker’s Beads. She is also into the training of people in the making of bead bags, necklaces, tissue boxes, slippers, flower vases, key holders, fancy rings, and many more. During this period, her main focus has been on the production of beads. Laudicia is passionate about promoting bead work as an African heritage and has plans to influence personal beauty as well as hone her leadership skills. Laudicia holds an SHS certificate from Accra Girls Secondary School and will spend 15 weeks at the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). Upon completion of the program, she intends to use the new ideas learnt to expand her organization
NAME: Rebecca Quansah
EMAIL: [email protected]
Rebecca Quansah, for three years, worked as an accountant for different organizations. Currently working as the Chief Executive Officer for Bernik Service in Accra, she is into the production of washing soap under the brand name, BQ Soap. Bernik Service has been in
production for two years serving people living in both rural and urban areas. Rebecca holds a Higher National Diploma in Accounting from Takoradi Technical University and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Education, Winneba.
NAME: Mary Asare
EMAIL: [email protected]
Mary Asare is the founder and CEO of Maduke Garments, a clothing line business that has produced customized uniforms for schools and colleges in Ghana since 2015. Mary’s corporate goal is to become a leading brand in the country, while creating job opportunities for young people, especially persons with disabilities. Mary hopes, by the end of 2024, to expand the production of customized uniforms, sportswear, stylish clothing, utility
uniforms and industrial clothing to more clients. Mary holds an MA in CSR from the London Metropolitan University and a BSC from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. She is a trained teacher by profession with 6 years’ experience in teaching and also a communication practitioner with an Advanced Communication Certificate from the Ghana Institute of Journalism
NAME: Mercy Adoley Addo
EMAIL: [email protected]
Mercy Adoley Addo has over 15 years’ experience in teaching, and 10 years’ experience in entrepreneurship. Her entrepreneurial journey started in 2009, when she established Miracle Rock International School, to provide formal basic education (Nursery, KG, Primary and JHS).
During this period, her main focus has been providing low fee-paying services for parents who are mostly traders, squatters and less privileged in her community. Mercy is passionate about her charitable role to the community and hopes to learn new ways to raise funds to expand her school and educate more children through her participation in the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) project. Within the next five years, Mercy hopes to make her school one of the best private schools in Ghana with a completed classroom block, a computer science laboratory and a school bus to transport students. Mercy holds Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resource Management option and Teacher’s Certificate ‘A’ from Methodist University College, Ghana and Presbyterian Women’s College of Education-Aburi, respectively.
NAME: Emelia Osei-Yeboah
EMAIL: [email protected]
Emelia has over twenty years experience in Office Management and 10 years in Entrepreneurship. Her Entrepreneurship journey started in 2010 when she opened her own clothing shop, Emelita Clothing. She is also the Managing Partner of Luxury Fashions Limited, registered in 2013, to trade in Hawes and Curtis brand in Ghana. Hawes and Curtis is a distinguished UK clothing brand founded in 1913. Emelia set up Fresh Lemon Cleaning Services in 2016. Her objective is fundamental job creation for the youth, promoting a cleaning company that uses environmentally friendly cleaning products, as well as to sustain a successful and viable business for future generations. She believes a clean environment promotes productivity in the corporate sector and a clean home promotes good health. Emelia holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). and intends pursuing a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Communications.
NAME: Grace Aba Aidoo
EMAIL: [email protected]
Grace has over 10 years’ working experience in Accounting and is currently an Assistant Finance Officer of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). She is currently the CEO of Tigray Cleaning and Gardening Services that provides cleaning and gardening services to clients and believes in promoting a healthier environment. Her business has been in operation for the past nine months. The business is a micro enterprise I established to reduce unemployment in the country. Grace is determined to expand the business to other parts of the country. She is a Chartered Accountant (ACCA), has an MBA in Financial Management from Cambridge International College, UK and an HND Accountancy from Accra Technical University. Through the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Grace hopes to scale up her business to employ more young people and, in the process, help them to further their education
NAME: Mabel Korleki Narh
EMAIL: [email protected]
Mabel has over five years’ working experience in business administration and over two years’ experience in entrepreneurship. Her main focus has been selling and distribution of quality baby diapers, baby wipes and other baby products to all nursing mothers to make their babies live a healthy, comfortable, happy and sickness-free life. Mabel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an option in Human Resource Management from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. She is passionate
about gaining more knowledge and skills to advance and also to inspire and encourage young women to be self-employed and think entrepreneurship.
NAME: Evelyn Dzisah
EMAIL: [email protected]
Evelyn is a resilient person and keen to accept fresh challenges. She has been working as an entrepreneur, setting up Selix Fruit Juice Enterprise over the past two years. Prior to that, Evelyn worked with Fidelity Bank as a teller for two years and with Procredit Savings and Loans for seven years. She is a graduate of Kumasi Technical University with a Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (Production Option) and possesses a Certificate in Chartered Accountancy Technician (CAT 1 & 2). Evelyn’s ambition over the next five years is to persistently work towards using creative means to develop quality natural fruit juice varieties and other healthy products onto the market in the most effective and efficient manner.
NAME: Dora Nana Buah Deku
EMAIL: [email protected]
Dora is an agriculturalist who creates urban vegetable gardens. She has over four years’ experience in vegetable production and is currently the Founder and Manager of
Grown at Home Ghana which has been in existence for two years. During this period, her goal has been to encourage households in urban and peri urban areas to startup vegetable backyard gardening in their homes even with the smallest available space. This initiative was
created because of the unhygienic methods farmers adopt during production. Dora holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agribusiness Management from Central University and completed a 3-month Vegetable GreenHouse Training with Agritop. Upon completion of
the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs, her objective is to use the knowledge and skills she has learned to grow her businesses strength and have 70% of households in Ghana involved in backyard gardening
NAME: Deborah Oduro
EMAIL: [email protected]
Deborah Oduro has over the years worked as an event coordinator through which she birthed De-Queens ushering agency. The Agency is a full-service event management agency based in Accra, available to help clients have unique and perfectly branded events at affordable prices. The vision of the agency is to train and groom individuals with the requisite skills in ushering,
protocol and modeling services. She will be spending 15 weeks at the YALI RLC Accra to undertake training at the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE). Upon completion of the project, she hopes to ensure security and stress-free events and create jobs for the youth. In the next five years, the agency’s expectations are to reduce unemployment of the youth in the country, empower the youth to be their own bosses and have confidence in themselves. Deborah holds a certificate in nursing from the City of London Business College as well as
other short courses.
NAME: Pamela Yaaba Ackah-Arthur
EMAIL: [email protected]
Pamela Yaaba Ackah-Arthur has over a years’ experience as the CEO of Kukks Delight Kitchen in Accra. During this period, her main focus has been on the production of natural probiotic yoghurt that comes in different flavors with no additives or preservatives. Pamela is passionate about promoting healthy family life through her provision of natural probiotic yoghurt. She has plans to train other women in the yoghurt-making business. Pamela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and Rural Development with a minor in Economics, from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.
NAME: Maame Yaa Kusi Binka
EMAIL: [email protected]
Maame Yaa has three years’ experience as the owner of Pepper Delight, a valuable brand of condiment in Ghana popularly known as ‘shito’. She also has over five years’ experience as lecturer of Business and Marketing at the Ghana Technology University College in Accra. Maame Yaa is passionate about sharing her knowledge gleaned from her business, and has plans to influence and lead other small businesses to operate as efficiently as possible while providing value for customers and all stakeholders involved. Maame Yaa holds an MPhil in Marketing from the University of Ghana Business School and has researched on Female Entrepreneurs in Ghana: Challenges and Coping strategies, a published document available on Amazon.
NAME: Agathina Awubalie Abagi
EMAIL: [email protected]
Agathina Awubalie Abagi has over 10 years’ experience in the female fashion industry. In the past six years, she has specialized in the production of female clothes and training of young men and women to acquire sewing skills and be able to work with it to improve their lives and that of their communities. Agathina holds certificates in Fashion and Design from Vogue Style and the Kumasi Technical University and an SME Certificate from GIMPA. Upon completion of the AWE program, Agathina hopes to improve on her business skills, which will help the growth of her business and also help her trainees and community as a whole.
NAME: Lynette Logan
EMAIL: [email protected]
Lynette has five years’ experience as the Operations Manager of DILLS Farm, a poultry farm, which specializes in fresh eggs, dressed and live broilers and layers. Her role is to manage the day-to-day running of the farm, which includes recruitment of staff as well as their management, sales and marketing of eggs and chicken and accounting functions. Lynette holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Theatre Arts from the University of Ghana. Upon completion of the AWE program, Lynette hopes to have gained the requisite knowledge to grow and structure her business to be more efficient.
NAME: Caroline Elikplim Attah
EMAIL: [email protected]
Caroline Elikplim Attah worked in the marketing and sales research field for over seven years before venturing into entrepreneurship. She is currently the Creative and Marketing Manager of AfroDiva BumpStyle, an African maternity fashion business, which she started in December 2018. Her business is addressing the challenge of public breastfeeding by empowering working
mothers to easily breastfeed on demand anywhere with breastfeeding-friendly clothing. Caroline is propelled by the need to support mothers in the pursuit of their ambitions to ultimately contribute to the national economy and still be able to play their motherly roles
effortlessly. Caroline has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Professional Studies, Accra. She hopes to build AfroDiva BumpStyle into a premier African inspired maternity fashion brand in Ghana and beyond in the next five years and contribute
to increasing the current breastfeeding rate in Ghana.
NAME: Jessica Abena Opoku
EMAIL: [email protected]
Jessica Abena Opoku has over ten years’ experience in fashion and designing in Accra. During this period, her main focus has been on the production of clothing mainly men’s wear, women’s wear, occasional and children’s wear. This she has done through the establishment of her business, D’cant Creation. Jessica is passionate about training young girls and anyone interested in fashion and designing and plans to influence individual personal development by honing the
leadership skills of her trainees. She holds a certificate in Fashion and Designing from Fashion Africa Ghana.
NAME: Louisa Barbara Gbormittah
EMAIL: [email protected]
Louisa Barbara Gbormittah is the CEO of Mo’s Y)kumi (sheabutter), a business that began barely a year ago and is located in Ashongman-Estates in Accra. Louisa has over six years’ experience working with children. Her main focus has been to promote good health care for children through medical screening activities with the Lions Club, as well as volunteering for medical missions with Operation Smile Ghana. Louisa holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an option in Banking and Finance from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. She is a trained paralegal and holds a diploma in Nursing.