Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, Convenor of Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA), has urged women in the sustainability sector not to hold back on their ideas due to lack of funding.
She said waiting for money before taking action could hinder progress, adding that taking the first step could attract the necessary support.
“Don’t wait for money, just start, and God will send helpers. Great things happen when women come together,” she said.
Madam Sarpong was addressing participants at the maiden WiSA Summit held in Accra on Thursday, on the theme: “The Role of Women as a Source of Labour and Agents of Sustainability.”
She said WiSA sought to galvanise women across Africa to lead environmental sustainability efforts, promote impactful research, and build resilient, just communities.
The initiative, she said, was born out of the low representation of women in the sustainability sector, which calls for greater support and collaboration to close the gender and inequality gap in the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She explained that the summit serves as a platform for women to share ideas and build partnerships with key stakeholders, adding: “We want to work with partners to bring all women and women’s groups together to accelerate growth in the sustainability and climate change sector.”
Madam Sarpong emphasised the importance of unity and collaboration with men to achieve common goals.
“The men hold the key to the room. If we fight them, how would you get access to the keys? But, if we do this with them, we can get a copy of the key and have access to the room,” she noted.
Mr Issifu Seidu, Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, in a solidarity message, pledged support for WiSA, describing the initiative as timely and visionary.
“My office will stand by you to ensure the idea becomes the next big thing on the continent,” he said.
Mrs Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, lauded the initiative as a bold step that responds to the developmental needs of women and the nation.
She said the government was committed to empowering women through policies such as the Gender Policy of 2015 and the recently passed Affirmative Action and Gender Equity Bill.
The summit, organised by WiSA, was held in collaboration with the Ministries of Gender, Children and Social Protection; Labour, Jobs and Employment; and Climate Change and Sustainability, with support from the League of Extraordinary Women Network and EIB Network.
It brought together dignitaries from Ghana and beyond to deliberate on strategies to empower women in sustainability and advance the United Nations SDGs on climate action and gender equality.
Former Vice President of Liberia, Madam Jewel Howard Taylor, and Prince Adewole Adebayo, Flagbearer of the Social Democratic Party of Nigeria, were among the dignitaries.
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