International Women’s Day (March 8) celebrates women’s achievements and pushes for gender equality worldwide. In Ghana, women are increasingly breaking barriers in sectors once dominated by men — from mining and politics to technology, media, and sports.
This article highlights 10 Ghanaian women whose work has produced real impact and created opportunities for others. Their leadership, innovation, and advocacy extend beyond symbolism — shaping industries and empowering communities.
Nana Konadu Agyeman‑Rawlings – Politics & Women’s Empowerment
As a long‑time women’s rights advocate, Nana Konadu founded the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM) — one of Ghana’s most powerful grassroots women’s organizations. Under her leadership, DWM provided:
• microcredit loans to women traders and entrepreneurs
• health outreach programs in rural areas
• literacy and skills training for women and girls
She also ran for Ghana’s presidency, challenging norms and inspiring women to participate in national politics — an important contribution in a largely male political landscape.
Joyce Aryee – Leadership in Mining & Corporate Governance
Joyce Aryee was CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, leading advocacy for responsible mining and gender inclusion in the extractive sector. Under her stewardship:
• Mining companies adopted improved community engagement policies
• Initiatives supported local empowerment and environmental standards
• She helped establish mentorship networks for women professionals in corporate leadership
Her influence helped shift the mining sector toward greater inclusivity and accountability — an uncommon transition in such male‑dominated industries.
Ama Atta Aidoo
One of Africa’s most celebrated literary voices, known for centering African women’s experiences in fiction and drama. Her major works include the play ★ The Dilemma of a Ghost (1965), the novel Changes: A Love Story (1991), and the short-story collection No Sweetness Here (1970), which established her as a leading figure in post-independence African literature.
Charlotte Osei
Charlotte Osei made history in 2015 when she became the first woman to chair Ghana’s Electoral Commission, placing her at the center of one of the country’s most critical democratic institutions. During her leadership, she oversaw several elections including the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections, which were widely praised by international observers as peaceful and credible.
Osei also introduced major reforms aimed at strengthening the Electoral Commission, including a five-year strategic plan, improved transparency measures, and the implementation of 27 electoral reforms agreed upon with political parties to increase public confidence in the electoral process. She also expanded the commission’s infrastructure by building 100 district offices and introducing public engagement initiatives such as the television program “Ask the EC,” which educated citizens about election procedures.
Her leadership earned international recognition, including the U.S. State Department’s International Women of Courage Award in 2017 and a role as a United Nations international elections commissioner, demonstrating her influence beyond Ghana’s borders.
Peace Hyde
Peace Hyde has built a global media career while using storytelling to highlight African success stories and inspire young people. She is the creator and executive producer of “Young, Famous & African,” Netflix’s first African reality television series, which brought African entertainment and culture to global streaming audiences.
Hyde is also the founder of Aim Higher Africa, a nonprofit organization that focuses on improving educational opportunities for young people across Africa by providing school supplies, scholarships, and motivational programs. Through her work with media and education initiatives, she has become a prominent advocate for youth empowerment and female leadership across the continent.
Ophelia Crossland
Ophelia Crossland is one of Ghana’s most successful fashion designers with recognition beyond national borders. She started her fashion career in 2004 and has made clothes for prominent personalities in Ghana including the former Speaker of Parliament, Joyce Bamford-Addo, the Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Woods, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Gifty Anti, and Joselyn Dumas. Ophelia also launched international collections that promote African design globally.
She also trains and mentors emerging female fashion entrepreneurs
She partners with brands to showcase Ghanaian style on global runways
Her work showcases Ghanaian creativity internationally and supports female designers entering competitive industry spaces.
Anita Erskine
Anita Erskine has spent more than two decades shaping Ghana’s media landscape through television, radio, and corporate communications. She began her career hosting television programs such as The Bold and Beautiful Omnibus on Metro TV before becoming widely known as the host of TV3’s talent show Mentor, which helped launch the careers of several Ghanaian musicians.
Her career has extended beyond broadcasting into corporate leadership and international media production. She served as Corporate Communications Director for Tigo, working across Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and later hosted major television programs including The One Show and +233 Discovery, which promoted African innovation, education, and culture.
Through her public speaking, mentorship programs, and media advocacy, she has also encouraged young women to pursue careers in broadcasting, communications, and leadership.
Dzifa Gomashie
Dzifa Gomashie has built a distinguished career that bridges the creative arts and public service, using her influence to promote Ghanaian culture and strengthen the country’s creative industries. Before entering politics, she was already well known as an accomplished actress and playwright who contributed significantly to the development of theatre and television in Ghana.
Her transition into public leadership came when she served as Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, a position through which she worked to promote Ghana’s cultural heritage and support the growth of the creative economy. During her tenure, she advocated policies aimed at improving infrastructure for the arts and encouraging greater investment in cultural tourism, recognizing the potential of the creative sector to generate employment and preserve national identity.
Gomashie has also remained active in cultural advocacy through initiatives that celebrate Ghanaian traditions, language, and storytelling. Her dual career in the arts and government demonstrates how creative professionals can shape national development while preserving cultural heritage.
Dzibodi Kwaku-Dosoo
Dzibodi Kwaku-Dosoo, popularly known simply as Dzibodi, has emerged as an influential figure in Ghana’s modern media and lifestyle industry through her work as a television personality, producer, and entrepreneur. She gained national recognition as the host and producer of “The DZD Show,” a lifestyle and entertainment television program that highlights fashion, music, culture, and social issues affecting young Africans.
Through this platform, Dzibodi has interviewed numerous creatives, entrepreneurs, and public figures while promoting African fashion designers, musicians, and artists who might otherwise receive limited mainstream exposure. Her program has contributed to expanding the visibility of African creative talent while encouraging conversations about youth culture and entrepreneurship.
In addition to her television work, Dzibodi has built a career as a fashion entrepreneur and digital content creator, using social media and multimedia platforms to promote African fashion and lifestyle brands. Her work reflects the growing influence of women in digital media and creative entrepreneurship, sectors that are becoming increasingly important in shaping modern African culture and business.
Nana Ama McBrown
Nana Ama McBrown has become one of Ghana’s most influential figures in the entertainment industry after rising from modest beginnings to build a career that spans acting, television hosting, and media entrepreneurship. She first gained national attention through her role in the popular Ghanaian movie Asoreba, which established her as one of the leading actresses in the local film industry. Over the years, she has starred in dozens of Ghanaian films and television productions, helping to popularize the country’s movie industry at a time when it was still developing.
Her influence grew even further when she became the host of the highly rated entertainment program United Showbiz, where she created a platform for actors, musicians, producers, and creatives to discuss issues affecting the industry and showcase their work. By hosting one of Ghana’s most watched entertainment talk shows, she helped elevate conversations about the creative arts while also creating opportunities for emerging entertainers to gain visibility.
Beyond acting and television, McBrown has become a successful brand ambassador and entrepreneur whose partnerships with major companies have demonstrated the growing economic power of women in Ghana’s entertainment sector. Her career trajectory—from actress to influential media personality—has inspired many young women to pursue careers in entertainment and broadcasting.
