Twenty-nine women entrepreneurs committed to ensuring professional growth of
their businesses have graduated from the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)
at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

This was after the women had undergone 15 weeks training. They include pastry chefs, fashion designers, skin and hair care product manufacturers, online grocers, cleaning suppliers, and garment manufacturers.

Known as AWE First Cohort in Ghana, the women were taken through Accounting, Online Digital Marketing, Confidence Building, and Branding among other topics.

Five out of the 29 women, who were pitched, were presented with GH¢5,000.00 each as seed capital to inject into their respective businesses.

AWE is the State Department's flagship programme, which supports the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative (W-GDP) launched by the White House Advisor, Ivanka Trump.

W-GDP has the ambitious goal of reaching 50 million women worldwide to fulfill their economic potentials.

Speaking at the graduation, Mrs Stephanie S. Sullivan, United States Ambassador to Ghana, was elated that the women had acquired new knowledge, skills and confidence that would take their businesses to the next level.

Mrs Sullivan said women business owners had, over the years, contributed to Ghana's economic prosperity in both formal and informal sectors.

She said when women succeed, children became healthier and better educated and communities also thrived.

She commended the women for taking time off their busy schedules to invest in their professional growth.

Mrs Sullivan urged the participants to stay connected to each other as they chased their dreams adding; "It is important to strengthen and grow your networks."

Mrs Shola Safo-Duodu, the Country Lead, AWE Ghana, and Project Director, YALI Regional Leadership Centre, Accra, commended the women for their resilience and dedication throughout the programme and urged them to build business empires.

A participant, Ms Mary Asare, the Chief Executive Officer of Maduke Garments, lauded the White House for supporting them to expand their businesses.

Being a beneficiary of the GH¢5,000.00 seed capital, she said the money would help her employ more people.

The participants earlier held an exhibition of their various products.