Invest in diversity, equity, HR practitioners told
By Isaac AIDOO, Accra
SPEAKERS at the 9th Women in Human Resource (HR) Conference in Accra have underscored the importance of HR practitioners investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion for sustainable, successful growth of their organisations.
The conference is organised by the Ghana Employers Association (GEA) exclusively for women in the HR industry in Ghana.
With the goal of addressing unique challenges faced by women and harnessing their potential, the conference has sought to inspire and equip participants to leverage their personal and professional networks for success.
Speaking at the two-day conference themed “Driving Change, Shaping the Future of HR,” in Accra, 2nd Vice President of the GEA Ms. Victoria Hajar said specific areas such as diversity, equity, inclusion, leadership development, data-driven decision-making, mental health and well-being, ethics and compliance as well as occupational safety must form a significant part of organizations’ overall strategic objective.
“As we plan into the future, several key areas stand out and must engage the attention of HR leaders in Ghana,” Madam Hajar added.
According to her, navigating the numerous challenges women HR practitioners face required a forward-thinking, adaptable, and empathetic approach.
She gave the assurance that HR leaders who proactively engage with the emerging issues will be well-equipped to drive their organizations forward in an ever-changing world of work.
The GEA 2nd Vice President described the conference as “not just an annual event but a celebration of our shared potential and an affirmation of our determination to drive change and shape the boundaries of HR.”
Madam Hajar charged women HR practitioners “let us emerge from this gathering as stronger, wiser, and more connected individuals, ready to champion transformation in every place of work.”
She urged, “let us seize the moment, harness our collective power, and create ripples of transformation that extend far beyond these walls.”
Madam Hajar observed that since its inception, the conference had made significant strides towards establishing itself as an “HR Enlightenment or Knowledge Hub” for practitioners.
She stated that, “our aspiration is for every female HR professional to take advantage of this platform at least once during her career journey. This will enable them to connect with peers, share insights, and collaboratively address the persistent challenges that their respective organizations may be facing.”
Deputy Chairperson at the National Labour Commission (NLC) Mrs Rose Karikari Anang and key note speaker at the conference called for bold HR professionals who will drive the much needed transformation in organisations, adding “ that HR practitioners are the people who are driving the transformation of businesses.”
She stressed that issues of diversity, equity and inclusion were very important. “ Rope in everybody in the organisation , leave no one out, let no one feel abandoned , there should be equity across board,” she pointed out.
Like all women in management in the corporate world, women HR professionals
encounter various challenges that make it difficult for them to climb the corporate ladder and eventually to be at the apex of their roles.
GEA, recognizing the significant contribution of women in HR to business outcomes,
business performance, competitiveness and over all industrial harmony, has instituted an annual event for women HR professionals to provide a platform for them to share
experiences and practices that will help them enhance their career prospects and
advancement in the corporate world.
