Little did we know 2019 was going to sneak up on all of us really quick.
All in all, it has been an amazing year. A year when women had their powerful voices heard like never before.
In Ghana, the story was no different. Women showed their power across all corners from governance to management, innovation, sports through to entertainment.
There were the firsts in achieving feats, the exceptional in putting Ghana on the globe and the ones who gave their fellow women something to look up to.
For an entire nation, these memories will live in the hearts of many and serve as a blueprint for further successes in the future, giving other women something to look up to and get involved in the conversation about women inclusion.
We at Pulse.com.gh love what our women did in 2018. Here are the notable Ghanaian women who inspired us in some of the biggest moments of the year.
- Hanna Serwaa Tetteh
The former Foreign Affairs Minister was appointed by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, as his Special Representative to the African Union. She will also be the Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Before this position, António Guterres had earlier in July 2018 appointed her as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).
- Yvette Atekpe
Yvette was awarded the 2017 Marketing Woman of the Year, at the 29th Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana (CIMG) Awards held in October 2018.
As the Managing Director of Internet Solutions Ghana Limited, Yvette was recognised as one of the top 25 leaders of ICT in Ghana. She has also been adjudged the ICT woman and industry personality in her sector.
- Rebecca Akufo-Addo
The First Lady of Ghana continues to use her role to help develop the health sector of Ghana. She was recently named the 'Nutrition Champion' for Ghana by the Co-founders and eminent leaders of the high-level African Leaders for Nutrition initiative.
Mrs Akufo-Addo who is also the founder of the Rebecca Foundation joins His Excellency Hery Rajaonarimampianina, President of Madagascar, His Majesty King Letsie III of the Kingdom of Lesotho and African Union Nutrition Champion, Dr Howarth Bouis, Acting CEO of HarvestPlus as the 2018 Nutrition Champions.
- Mukarama Abdulai
Mukarama is Ghana’s captain for the U-17 Women’s team. Mukarama Abdulai won the Golden Boot after finishing as top scorer of the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
She also collected the Adidas Bronze Ball (third best player) behind Spain's Claudia Pina and Nicole Perez of Mexico.
- Ivy Barley
Ivy Barley is a social entrepreneur and currently championing an agenda of a world where more African women will be daring enough to lead in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) fields.
She is the co-founder of Developers in Vogue. This organization trains females in the latest technologies and connects them to real-time projects and jobs.
- Naomi Esi Arku Amoah
The forty-two-year-old is the founder of an orphanage in Ghana called the Royal Seed Foundation at Kasoa in the Central Region.
Naomi Esi Arku Amoah was adjudged the ultimate winner of the MTN Heroes of Change Season IV for caring for the children in her orphanage.
- Madam Alimatu Boakye
Madam Alimatu Boakye emerged the 2018 Best Female Farmer at this year’s National Farmers' Day celebrations held in the Northern Region. Her passion for growing the agriculture sector of the economy is a trait worth the recognition.
- Marietta Brew Appiah Oppong
The International Criminal Court (ICC) appointed the former Attorney General of Ghana as a member of the International Court of Arbitration.
Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong’s appointment takes effect from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2021
- Elsie Awadzi
She is the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana. She was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo in February 2018.
Even though there is a Governor, her role in all the ongoing reformation in the banking sector cannot be underestimated.
- Priscilla Opoku Kwarteng
Ebony, as she was popularly known hit the Ghana music scene with a bang creating hit song after hit song.
Despite dying in a road accident in February 2018, the late Ghanaian musician was named the 'Artiste of the Year' at the 2018 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, the first female to win the accolade. RIP Ebony!