This year’s edition of the annual International SHEROES forum has set the agenda for a deeper enlightenment in the way women can better represent themselves in a competing male-dominated world.

Although there is a growing recognition of tapped capacity and talents of women and women leadership over the last two decades, panels at day one of the forum concluded that successful women could play a better role in mentoring upcoming women leaders.

The forum themed “Setting New Paradigms for Women’s Leadership in Africa” saw women leaders who discussed the pertinent issues informing low participation of women in leadership roles in Africa.

Co-Founder of the SHEROES foundation, Flossy Menson said to build consensus around effective leadership and deliberate on the key issues of importance of women in all spheres of life, there was the need to come together as women to effect changes in their individual lives and that of their children.

Former Mauritius President, Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, who was the Keynote Speaker stated that the African continent especially needed more women who can raise awareness and lead by examples

Addressing the audience at the event, she said “One of the greatest gift of leadership is the approach to work every day with and for the next generation. Leading by example, learning from the inside and sharing ideas to keep the momentum going.”

She urged women at the top to break away from outdated leadership and practice integrating more female aspects into leadership which will create more acceptance and innovative challenges championed by women.



“We possess great, untapped strength such as our propensity for compassion. Our desire to create a better world for our children.”

Gender Minister, Cynthia Morrison, commending the initiative by SHEROES, said the forum was a good initiative for women to share ideas on a common platform and speak about their struggles and successes to motivate other women.

“Some women feel so intimidated but when they come together like this and we meet other women, and we see what they are doing and they tell us their life stories it urges us on and let us know that we can also get to our destination.”

On the role of women in leadership, Madam Cynthia noted that women are naturally strong and brave adding that a little push in the relevant fields would only make them better.

“Women are naturally mothers and we birth children and because of that we are strong and courageous. The only thing is that we have a lot of challenges when it comes to politics. The men will try to pull you down. But like we rightly heard today, we need to forge on and strive to attain what we want to attain.” She stated.



Trailblazers who also graced the occasion were Akosua Frema Osei-Opare; Ghana’s first female Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Veteran Politician; Christine Churcher who is also Board Chair of the Ghana National Gas Company Limited, Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; Senior Economic Advisor at Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative in Nigeria and co-founder of the “Bring Back Our Girls Campaign”, Dr. Joice Mujuru; former Vice President of Zimbabwe, and Mrs. Clar Weah, First Lady of the Republic of Liberia.