“Empowering women-owned businesses imperative for socio-economic devp’t, catalyst for economic buoyancy”- Supt. Helen K. Quarcoo

Superintendent Helen Korkor Quarcoo, Head of Commercial Unit at the Senior Correctional Centre (SCC), of the Ghana Prisons Service has underpinned the need for investors in Ghana, Africa and overseas to consciously support women-owned businesses in the country.

Speaking at the Women Investment Summit Africa (WISA 24), held under the auspices of the Oxford Africa Women Leadership Institute (OAWLI) at the British Council, Accra on Tuesday, Supt. Quarcoo accentuated that it is imperative for investors globally to fund women-owned businesses.

“Funding with the needed logistics and capital would boost their businesses and that would generate more revenue for the country to accelerate our bouyancy as a nation”, she emphasised.

Elaborating that, funding women-owned businesses would serve as a viable means of stabilizing the Ghanaian women to harness their business ambitions.

According to the Head of Commercial Unit at SCC, investors should deliberately empower female entrepreneurs with financial resources and operational support in order to unravel their full potentials in the competitive market.

Bemoaning on accessibility to seed capital for women-owned businesses, Supt. Quarcoo highlighted that there are increasing number of female entrepreneurs, however funding remains a herculean gap for some to achieve their feat in the business domain.

With an admonishment, she empowered female entrepreneurs to keep striving for greatness in their business endeavours and commended them for their frantic efforts for putting Ghana on the global front.

The SCC Commercial Boss ardently called on investors to visit the SCC for more collaborations in commercial investments because Senior Correctional Centre is a hub for business relations with interesting products for local and international usage.

H.E Simone Giger, Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Guest of Honour at WISA 24, enumerated on some challenges women-owned businesses face and indicated that, WISA 24 serves as a transformative tool for unlocking success in women businesses.

The Ambassador reiterated on Switzerland’s commitment in supporting businesses in Ghana.

H. E Charles Abani, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ghana noted that the summit was a timely event because of its closeness to the commemoration of International Women’s Day.

Mr. Abani commended the Oxford Africa Women Leadership Institute for organising WISA 24 dubbed “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”.

Adding that women leadership is key to the rules of engagements in decision making.

Mrs. Odelia Ntiamoah, Global Director of OAWLI underscored the need for the summit by expressing gratitude to the sponsors of the summit, indicating that it is the gateway for transforming businesses to higher feats.

“With positive energy, WISA is going to make women entrepreneurship future business owners of the world through the women investment fund called the catalytic fund to propel women-owned businesses to perform well in the competitive market”, she reiterated.

The Global Director highlighted that, WISA would provide proper financial training and business managements for women-owned businesses, since it is their priority to see women businesses excel internationally.

The high-profiled summit was attended by various diplomats, directors of financial institutions, business owners, women groups among other dignitaries.

Story by: ASP Nii Arday Ankrah