{"id":15091,"date":"2026-02-20T14:32:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:32:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/?p=15091"},"modified":"2026-02-20T14:32:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:32:19","slug":"celebrating-the-rise-of-female-entrepreneurs-closing-ceremony-of-the-gnbcc-women-in-business-program-cohort-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/celebrating-the-rise-of-female-entrepreneurs-closing-ceremony-of-the-gnbcc-women-in-business-program-cohort-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating the Rise of Female Entrepreneurs: Closing Ceremony of the GNBCC Women in Business Program (Cohort 2025)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The public ceremony and exhibition opened with a welcome from Tracy Abbey Mensah, who commended the mentees for their unwavering commitment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 &#8220;FemFocus&#8221; agenda, stating:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;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&#8230; When we find ways to remove institutional barriers and boost the professional capacity of business owners, they can contribute to a flourishing economy.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She encouraged the women to &#8220;hold each other close&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The night concluded with an engaging exhibition, where guests and GNBCC members sampled and purchased a diverse range of &#8220;Made in Ghana&#8221; products. From organic skincare to processed foods and fresh agricultural produce, the quality on display was a testament to the talent within this group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We invite the business community to support and patronize these incredible female-led businesses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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&#8217;Luv, Enam Cosmetics, Obaa Essentials, Haprian Naturals, Nuvi Blends, Leespec Enterprise, Miller and Marian, GoGreen HolistiQ, MissAshley Ventures, Edfre Enterprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Applications for the next cohort of the Women in Business program will open in March 2026. Stay tuned to our channels for more information!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":15078,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"yes","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[153],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-articles"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14621,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/women-in-business-wib-closing-ceremony\/","url_meta":{"origin":15091,"position":0},"title":"Invitation: Women in Business (WIB) Closing Ceremony","author":"Michael Teye","date":"February 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The GNBCC invites members and stakeholders to the Women in Business (WIB) Closing Ceremony, marking the conclusion of the 2025 edition of the project. Join us for an evening of networking and exhibitions as we celebrate the achievements and collaborations of women entrepreneurs who have successfully completed the WIB journey.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;GNBCC Updates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"GNBCC Updates","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/gnbcc-updates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/wib-CLOSING-CEREMONY-DATED-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/wib-CLOSING-CEREMONY-DATED-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/wib-CLOSING-CEREMONY-DATED-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/wib-CLOSING-CEREMONY-DATED-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/wib-CLOSING-CEREMONY-DATED-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/wib-CLOSING-CEREMONY-DATED-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6880,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/celebrating-the-success-of-the-wib-program\/","url_meta":{"origin":15091,"position":1},"title":"Celebrating the Success of the WIB Program","author":"Tracy Mensah","date":"July 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"On Wednesday, July 10th, GNBCC proudly celebrated the closing ceremony of the Women in Business Program at La Villa Boutique Hotel in Osu.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/WIB-Closing-Ceremony.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/WIB-Closing-Ceremony.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/WIB-Closing-Ceremony.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/WIB-Closing-Ceremony.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15694,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/women-in-business-wib-2026-kick-off-event\/","url_meta":{"origin":15091,"position":2},"title":"Women In Business (WIB) 2026 Kick-Off Event","author":"Michael Teye","date":"April 17, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The GNBCC Women in Business (WIB) Programme officially launched its 2026 cohort on 8th April, welcoming 20 women entrepreneurs to a transformative three-month mentorship journey. The kick-off event featured inspiring addresses from GNBCC General Manager Hilde Famaey, Deputy Dutch Ambassador Wendy Van Meel, and KLM Country Director Isabelle Indeweij, alongside\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Women in Business&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Women in Business","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/wib\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WIB-kik-26-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WIB-kik-26-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WIB-kik-26-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WIB-kik-26-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WIB-kik-26-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WIB-kik-26-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16004,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/youre-invited-celebrating-four-years-of-impact-at-the-psd-1-closing-ceremony\/","url_meta":{"origin":15091,"position":3},"title":"You&#8217;re Invited: Celebrating Four Years of Impact at the PSD 1 Closing Ceremony","author":"Grace Agorigo","date":"May 29, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The GNBCC, in collaboration with the Netherlands Embassy, is thrilled to invite all alumni, project stakeholders, and GNBCC Members to the official closing ceremony of the first edition of the Private Sector Development (PSD 1) project. Hosted at the Netherlands Embassy, this special event will celebrate the achievements in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News Articles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News Articles","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/news-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PSD-Closing-Ceremony-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PSD-Closing-Ceremony-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PSD-Closing-Ceremony-2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PSD-Closing-Ceremony-2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/PSD-Closing-Ceremony-2.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18987,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wib-mentor-exchange-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":15091,"position":4},"title":"Project Update: Women in Business (WIB) Mentor Exchange Day","author":"Paul N.","date":"September 4, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The GNBCC\u2019s Women in Business Mentor Exchange Day brought mentors, mentees and alumnae together for practical business guidance, shared learning and stronger connections across the network.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Women in Business&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Women in Business","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/wib\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Article12v2-8.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Article12v2-8.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Article12v2-8.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Article12v2-8.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Article12v2-8.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14866,"url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/gnbcc-2026-events-calendar-and-upcoming-activities\/","url_meta":{"origin":15091,"position":5},"title":"Announcement: The GNBCC 2026 Events Calendar","author":"Michael Teye","date":"January 30, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The GNBCC has released its 2026 Events Calendar, outlining key activities, PSD projects, and upcoming engagements for the year. Members are also invited to participate in three major events scheduled for February, including the New Year\u2019s Networking Cocktail, the Women in Business Closing Ceremony, and a Pensions & Retirement webinar.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;GNBCC Updates&quot;","block_context":{"text":"GNBCC Updates","link":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/category\/gnbcc-updates\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026-events-calendar-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026-events-calendar-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026-events-calendar-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026-events-calendar-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026-events-calendar-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026-events-calendar-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/WIB.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15091"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15091\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15129,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15091\/revisions\/15129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gnbcc.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}