VC Inspires Women Leaders at Elevate 2026 Breakfast
Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, has called on women leaders and executives to lead with purpose and clarity as they pursue impact in 2026. She made the remarks during the Leading Female Leaders and Executives Breakfast Meeting held at the residence of the Italian Ambassador to Ghana. The event was organised by Glitz Africa Magazine in collaboration with the Italian Embassy, with support from Ecobank Ghana Plc.
The breakfast meeting brought together senior executives, business leaders, diplomats, academics, institutional heads and influential women shaping policy, organisations and communities. Designed as more than a networking occasion, the event provided a space for reflection, clarity and forward thinking as attendees set their sights on the new year. The theme, “Elevate 2026: Leading with Purpose and Clarity,” encouraged participants to consider how they are evolving as leaders, how intentional they are about the influence they carry and how prepared they are for the increasing complexity and responsibility that leadership now demands.
Prof. Amfo described the gathering as a timely platform for women of influence, experience and determination to come together to reflect, learn and rekindle their professional purpose. She emphasised that in environments of complexity, heightened scrutiny and competing expectations, purpose becomes a compass and clarity a currency, enabling leaders to rise above noise, navigate uncertainty and shape institutions that endure.
Explaining what it means to lead with purpose, Prof. Amfo said leaders must anchor their work in meaning and direction so that people understand why they are working, what they are working toward and how to get there. Purposeful leadership, she noted, requires being guided by values, understanding the broader impact of decisions, aligning personal conviction with institutional mission and making choices that serve a long-term vision.
Clarity, she added, involves setting clear priorities, communicating decisions consistently, translating vision into actionable goals and reducing ambiguity. “Clarity builds trust, accelerates execution and empowers others to act confidently,” she said.
Drawing on her own leadership experience, Prof. Amfo encouraged women leaders to begin the year by defining or re-articulating their leadership purpose. She said understanding why one leads provides direction and ensures actions contribute to a larger mission. She urged leaders to focus on up to three strategic priorities for 2026 and to protect them carefully, noting that clear priorities help navigate competing demands while maintaining impact.
Prof. Amfo highlighted the importance of communication, stressing that purpose and clarity only matter if teams understand them. Leaders should ensure goals and expectations are clearly explained and consistently reinforced. She also called on leaders to invest in strategic relationships, saying leadership is rarely a solo effort and that strong connections can expand influence and open new opportunities. Finally, she encouraged leaders to schedule regular time for reflection, assessing progress and reviewing what is working, what needs adjustment and what should be scaled or stopped to remain aligned with long-term goals.
Prof. Amfo noted that the role of women in institutions has evolved from visibility to measurable impact and from managing departments to shaping institutions through governance, culture and policy. She urged women leaders to redefine power as collaborative, inclusive and purpose-driven and to scale their influence from community engagement to national and global impact across sectors such as education, health, governance and sustainability.
The Vice-Chancellor encouraged attendees to make 2026 a year of intentional elevation, stating that leading with purpose and clarity involves knowing why one leads, choosing what truly matters and acting with focus and conviction. She called on women leaders to reset priorities, lead authentically and create pathways for others while shaping institutions that endure beyond their tenure.
“Let us rise with purpose, lead with clarity and elevate not only ourselves but every individual, system, or community we are privileged to influence,” Prof. Amfo concluded.
The event provided a meaningful forum for influential women across sectors to network, reflect and set strategic goals, reinforcing the importance of purposeful and clear leadership in shaping enduring impact in 2026 and beyond.
Her Excellency Laura Ranalli, the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, welcomed attendees and thanked the women leaders for their participation. She emphasised the importance of discussing challenges and celebrating achievements, describing the gathering as a “fantastic opportunity” for networking and building friendships.
The Ambassador also highlighted Italy’s partnership with Ghana and Africa, noting joint efforts across public and private sectors in areas such as agriculture, education, TVET, digital innovation, the circular economy and fashion.
Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana, speaking during a panel session at the programme, shared reflections on her own leadership journey. She described the transition from building her competence and professional network to taking on roles with increased visibility and scrutiny.
Prof. Kaufmann said leadership now involves being watched more closely and judged more critically, in which case it has become imperative to focus on impact while in a leadership role. She added that as she approaches retirement, she hopes her next chapter will focus on mentoring and developing future leaders, with a focus on honesty with oneself and transparency in leadership.
Ms. Claudia Kwarteng Lumor, CEO of Glitz Africa, said the event was designed to bring leaders from different industries together to share ideas and strategies under the Elevate 2026 initiative. She stressed that elevating leaders is closely linked to elevating communities and that supporting women leaders is key to achieving lasting impact. Ms. Lumor expressed her appreciation for the presence of participants and their various contributions to the discussions.