Inclusivity Means Walking with Men, Not Pushing Them Aside – Second Deputy Governor
Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Mrs. Matilda Asante-Asiedu, has stated that true inclusivity in leadership is not about sidelining men, but fostering partnership between genders to drive organizational and national progress.
Speaking at the 11th Women in Human Resource (HR) Conference in Accra, themed “Beyond HR – Elevating Women to Lead Culture, Strategy, and Innovation”, Mrs. Asante-Asiedu challenged boards and organizations to break stereotypes that confine women’s leadership to “soft roles” such as Human Resources and Corporate Social Responsibility. Instead, she urged a shift that places women at the heart of strategic, financial, and innovation-driven decision-making.
“Men remain anchors in families and organizations, and policies that exclude them miss the point. When women rise, men do not fall. Instead, everyone rises together,” she said, highlighting that inclusivity strengthens both families and economies.
The Deputy Governor outlined three pillars of women’s leadership shaping organizational culture, crafting long-term strategy, and driving human-centered innovation arguing that companies with diverse leadership not only achieve higher profitability but also deliver more sustainable impact.
Citing global examples like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the World Trade Organization and Indra Nooyi’s strategic transformation of PepsiCo, she emphasized that women bring a holistic approach that blends profitability with purpose and inclusivity.
Mrs. Asante-Asiedu also referenced Ghana’s Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, which sets clear milestones—30% women in leadership by 2026, 35% by 2028, and parity by 2030—aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5.
“The future of leadership requires women at the tables of power, where culture is shaped, strategy is designed, and innovation is ignited. Inclusivity is not an option; it is an imperative,” she concluded.
