Societe Generale Ghana has announced the launch of their “SG Woman Club“, a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering women in business by providing them with the necessary resources to thrive in today’s economy.
The SG Woman Club offers a tailored financing package catering to corporate women, entrepreneurs, and Micro, Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). Beyond financial support, the initiative seeks to equip women with essential business development skills and financial literacy to foster their growth and success.
African Guarantee Fund affirmed its commitment to gender empowerment by investing significantly in the SG Woman Club. Emphasizing this, AGF West Africa Managing Director, Mr. Bendjin Kpeglo stated, “We are delighted to have supported the launch of SG Woman Club through our capacity development program, and we look forward to the significant impact this will have on the bank’s Women SME portfolio.”
Mr. Kpeglo added that the SG Woman Club aligns perfectly with the goals of the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative, which AGF implements in partnership with the African Development Bank, as it creates a conducive environment for women entrepreneurs to access finance, receive mentorship, attend capacity building workshops and build valuable networks.”
Delivering his welcome address, the Managing Director of SG Ghana Hakim Ouzzani, underscored the importance of addressing the challenges faced by women-owned businesses. Mr. Ouzzani added “I’m here today to advocate for change as well as to draw attention to the difficulties women-owned businesses face. SG Ghana will help supply the financial transformation necessary to open doors and promote inclusive growth. Unquestionably, investing in women is not just the moral thing to do, but also the wise thing to do”. Referencing Dr. James Kwegyir Aggrey, Mr. Ouzzani emphasized the transformative impact of empowering women financially, not just for individuals but for the entire country.
The event attracted key stakeholders from the financial services industry including the regulator, the Bank of Ghana, representative from the Office of the President on Sustainable Development Goals, the African Guarantee Fund and many other distinguished personalities.
In his address, the Head of Banking Supervision at the Bank of Ghana, Mr. Osei Gyasi, lauded the SG Woman Club as a significant step towards promoting gender equality and financial inclusion. Mr. Gyasi highlighted the initiative’s alignment with Ghana’s Sustainable Banking Principles and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The Deputy Director of the Office of the President’s SDGs Advisory Unit, Dr. Felix Addo-Yobo, commended the initiative as a potential game-changer for Ghana’s Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprise (MSME) ecosystem. He emphasized the critical role of access to resources in driving economic prosperity and job creation.
Mrs. Margaret Boateng Sekyere, Chairperson of SG Ghana Board of Directors, expressed confidence in the positive impact of the SG Woman Club, heralding a new era of opportunity for women entrepreneurs in Ghana. She emphasized the bank’s dedication to reaching as many eligible women as possible.
The SG Woman Club offers a comprehensive package of benefits, including free banking, low-interest loans, insurance coverage, and expert training through the Home of Business platform. These resources are designed to empower women to overcome barriers and achieve their business goals.