MTN celebrated International Women’s Day with a coaching and training session for women in the informal sector

MTN Ghana has commemorated the 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD) with an informal coaching session for the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association and the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association at Rawlings Park, Accra.

The session focused on educating women on financial literacy, including various investment and savings options, insurance, and the digital economy.

Mr. Abdallah Ibrahim, Acting Chief Human Resource Officer at MTN Ghana, explained that the training aimed to help women take advantage of digital opportunities and the MTN Ghana’s financial packages. He said, “You may have learned your trade a few years ago, but in today’s world, new business methods have emerged, and there is a lot you can learn to improve your work. This engagement is to inform, educate, and ensure the utilization of these platforms.”

Ms. Irene Awuku-Asabere of the Mobile Money Products and Services Division at MTN Ghana emphasized the important role women play in national development. She stated, “It is important to empower women to embrace digital innovations and financial services which will help them develop their knowledge in this field. In this era of technological advancement, we must educate female SME owners about financial literacy, especially as this year’s celebration promotes investment in women to accelerate progress.”

Prior to the engagement with the National Tailors and Dressmakers Association and the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association, MTN celebrated International Women’s Day with its employees on the global theme: “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress.” Mr. Abdallah Ibrahim took the opportunity to reaffirm the business’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He stated that MTN Ghana was working hard to achieve its diversity and inclusion goals by 2030 by reevaluating external recruitment and internal programs such as Women in Technology, which aim to support women’s development.

Other speakers at the event included Mrs. Audrey Abaka, the Head of SME, Agency Banking, and Partnerships at Absa Bank Ghana. In her remarks, she advised every woman to strive for higher education, skills development, and career advancement to progress in life. Mrs. Joyce Sika Twum, the CEO of Self Search Ghana Limited, shared some of the barriers hindering women’s ability to seize new opportunities. Mr. Kwaku Edem Damanka, Group Head of Talent and Corporate Affairs at BTL Africa, emphasized the importance of including colleagues in the journey to success because “we need one another to progress.”

In addition to the IWD commemorative events, MTN Ghana consistently engages with women across the country through programs like the Girls in ICT project, the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Month, and other initiatives focused on economically empowering women, championed by the MTN Ghana Foundation.

The event was replicated across the country in the Ashanti, Northern, Eastern, and Western Regions.