The Private Banking Unit of Stanbic Bank has affirmed its support for the Executive Womens' Network (EWN), a group of female entrepreneurs fighting for gender mainstreaming and women empowerment in the country.

The unit supported the non-profit organization with GHS 10,000 as it officially launched its intention to groom women into renowned professionals who will take frontline roles in the corporate world.

According to Dr Ernest Kofi Asimenu, Head, Private Banking, Stanbic Bank, the initiative is in line with Stanbic Bank’s culture of creating a growing atmosphere for hard working women. He added that Stanbic was poised to help break the stereotype against women.

“There used to be the stereotype that when a woman walked into the bank, it meant she was either divorced or widowed,” he said. “The ‘old boy’ private banking system is changing as more and more women are excelling in their chosen professions, thus becoming more financially stable.”

He bemoaned the fact that some private banks still find it difficult to enter the modern age, in which female entrepreneurs are on the rise and more women are staking their place in the boardroom.

“A very good example is what we are witnessing now,” he said. “Successful women complain they are still being patronised by those managing their money.”

He said Stanbic Bank salutes and appreciates the impact these women make in society.

“After all the theory is that women are more cautious than men, and are more likely to want to protect their money,” he added.

According to research from Boston Consulting Group, the world’s wealthiest women – those with at least $500M of investable assets – are now worth a collective $20.2B representing 27% of global assets under management.

Members of the EWN will be groomed under the tutelage of six top female business executives: Patience Akyianu, MD-Barclays Bank; Lucy Quist, MD-Airtel; Freda Duplan, MD-Nestlé Ghana; Maidie Arkutu, MD-Unilever Ghana; Edith Dankwa, CEO-Business and Financial Times; and Pearl Esua-Mensah-Managing Consultant, Feniks Ltd.