Sir Sam
Jonah, Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, UCC, has stressed the
challenges that women particularly face in the world of work.
According to him, despite there being setbacks for all
genders in “a very cynical world out there,” there are more pronounced
challenges for ladies.
In a speech he delivered over the week at the 2022 Graduation
Ceremony of Ashesi University, he underlined the importance of knowledge and
ethical leadership, tasking graduands to do all it takes to impact their
various societies positively in different fields.
“Trust me, the most potent weapons against prejudice are
knowledge and competence. These harsh realities will be faced by all of you,
but even to a greater extent by the ladies amongst you.
“Unfortunately, the world out there has not fully appreciated
the tremendous role our women play in society and therefore the women among you
might face even more challenges” Mr Jonah said.
He observed that globally, female leaders have proven
gamechangers in many respects, citing among others Golda Meir of Israel; Winnie
Mandela of South Africa; Indira Ghandi of India; Margaret Thatcher of the
United Kingdom; and more recntly, Angela Merkel of Germany.
He proceeded to list eight Ghanaian women leaders who he
described as "extraordinarily talented" having worked with them in
one capacity or the other.
Find Sir Sam Jonah's list below:
Mansa Nettey of Standard Chartered Bank
Abena Osei-Poku of ABSA Ghana
Afua Kyei, the young CFO of Bank of England
Beatrice Agyemang of Media General
Mimi Darko of Food and Drugs Authority
Patricia Obo-Nai of Vodafone Ghana
Patience Akyianu of Hollard Insurance
Lucy Quist formerly of Airtel Ghana and now Managing Director
of Morgan Stanley in London, which is one of the biggest investment banks in
the world
The Executive Chairman of Jonah Capital, added two women to
the list, his wife and daughter, praising their strides in business and
entrepreneurship.
“And there is also my own wife who is here with me today, a
uniquely talented and inspiring woman who conceived and built Africa’s first 5-
star Marriott Hotel from scratch; not forgetting my daughter Tamara Jonah who
after school chose the entrepreneurial route and set up what has become
arguably Ghana’s biggest events management company”.
“These are just a few of the women who have shown that
prejudice cannot stop a person who is determined to succeed; and these are
women who against all odds, have broken the glass ceiling for your generation
to emulate and perhaps even surpass,” he stressed.