Celebrating the Rise of Female Entrepreneurs: Closing Ceremony of the GNBCC Women in Business Program (Cohort 2025)

Last Friday, the atmosphere at the Airport View Hotel in Accra was one of triumph and transformation as the Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC) celebrated the closing ceremony of the 2025 Women in Business (WIB) Program.

The evening was the culmination of six months of intensive growth for 40 female entrepreneurs, primarily from the horticulture sector. Before the celebrations began, the cohort engaged in an in-person evaluation session led by Project Lead Tracy Abbey Mensah, where the women shared how the program had reshaped their business outlooks and provided them with the tools to persevere in a competitive market.

The WIB program was built on a foundation of mentorship. For the 2025 edition, we were privileged to have six distinguished female mentors who provided expertise in branding, customer service, business strategy, export readiness, and digital operations.

By pairing each participant with a mentor, the program moved beyond theory into the practicalities of building internal systems and navigating the competitive local and international markets. However, as many participants noted, the greatest value often came from the community itself. Balancing motherhood and family responsibilities with the demands of entrepreneurship is a unique challenge, and this cohort proved that with the right support system, these roles can flourish side-by-side.

The public ceremony and exhibition opened with a welcome from Tracy Abbey Mensah, who commended the mentees for their unwavering commitment.

Hilde Famaey, General Manager of GNBCC, expressed deep gratitude to the mentors and urged the graduates to stay connected to the Chamber. She highlighted the GNBCC SME Support Desk and other projects as vital follow-up resources to ensure that the progress made during these six months continues to scale.

We were also honored to be addressed by Naomi Tuinstra, Second Secretary at the Netherlands Embassy in Ghana. She delivered a powerful message on the “FemFocus” agenda, stating:

“We believe that if you strengthen the position of a woman, you strengthen the position of the whole family and the communities they live in… When we find ways to remove institutional barriers and boost the professional capacity of business owners, they can contribute to a flourishing economy.”

She encouraged the women to “hold each other close” as they face the inevitable ups and downs of the business world, reminding them that the connections made here are their greatest assets for the road ahead.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of certificates to the participants and the recognition of our dedicated mentors: Barbara Davies, Catherine Krobo Edusei, Fatima Alimohamed, Evelyn Lokko, Celestina Danso Arhin, Susanne Roelofsen Afum, and Dr. Florence Teiko Vanderpuye. Their generosity with their time and expertise has been instrumental in the success of this cohort.

The night concluded with an engaging exhibition, where guests and GNBCC members sampled and purchased a diverse range of “Made in Ghana” products. From organic skincare to processed foods and fresh agricultural produce, the quality on display was a testament to the talent within this group.

We invite the business community to support and patronize these incredible female-led businesses:

Nelia Foods, AFB Golden Enterprise, Rapha Delight, Hendy Farms, Safosco Ventures, Milliorade, Fortune Coffee, Amosah Farms, Nana Papa Limited Company, Eat by Noor, Odehe Smoked Fish and Meat Ventures, Terra Green Farms, Best Siblings, GirlFarmsHub, Evnoia Nutripac, Hot Drops, Makoine Foods and Farms Ltd., Parach Foods, Koco D’Luv, Enam Cosmetics, Obaa Essentials, Haprian Naturals, Nuvi Blends, Leespec Enterprise, Miller and Marian, GoGreen HolistiQ, MissAshley Ventures, Edfre Enterprise.

Applications for the next cohort of the Women in Business program will open in March 2026. Stay tuned to our channels for more information!