Former President of Malawi, H.E. Dr. Joyce Banda was a special Guest of Honor at a global gathering of women leaders in Accra on Thursday 8, October 2015.
Dr. Banda joined some of the most influential women from across the African continent at the International SHEROES Forum.
The former President also helped launch “Elect Her In Africa” (EHIA), an organization/initiative solely dedicated to encouraging women to run for elected offices in Africa and to encourage governments to appoint women to various positions.
EHIA is an initiative of the Joyce Banda Foundation and Africa Union/Diaspora Africa Forum.
The theme of the event was: Re-Defining the Rules of Engagement for Gender Equality. It brought together Policy Makers, CEOs, Legislators, Entrepreneurs, Politicians, Doctors, Attorneys, Bankers and Gender Activists to dialogue on issues related to gender equality and explore ways to advance women’s leadership in Africa.
Forum Solutions Limited, a Ghanaian-owned international company, organized the event.
“The International SHEROES Forum will be an exciting event that connects some of the most influential women leaders on the African continent,” said SHEROES Foundation Executive Director Ms. Flossy Tachie-Menson. www.sheroesforum.com
A high-powered panel of women experts were lined up to speak at the forum. They include H.E. Dr. Joyce Banda (Malawi), H.E. Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, former First Lady of Ghana; Senator Geraldine Doe-Sheriff of Liberia, Senator Binta Masi Garba of Nigeria; Madam Mary Broh, Mayor of Monrovia, Liberia amongst others.
“This Forum is to help us focus on empowering African Women to excel in various aspects of life,” Ms. Tachie-Menson said, adding: “The principal mission is the advancement of the feminist movement and strengthening the influence of women in business, government, academia and society in general.”
Forum participants explored how the most successful women leaders are redefining pathways to power—in business, politics and in our communities.
The International SHEROES forum featured panel discussions, interactive sessions and offered participants the opportunity to network with powerful women and create new friendships.
There were three panel sessions on the following topics: “Boosting Women as a Driving Force For Social Change; Advancing Women’s Participation in Politics to Drive the Economic Development and Future of Leadership – Invest in Women, Change the World”.
The event took place at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra with nearly 150 participants.