Women from Ghana

"… this ministries man, he is not only a bad man and bad husband, he has also got something inside his head. I only hope that he won’t destroy you with it before you too start seeing red with your eyes like I do."

"what African man gets angry because his wife was carrying a baby? And the first baby at that."

"He was lying on the mattress, face up, looking thoughtfully at the ceiling when I entered. Cool, composed and authoritative, he indicated with a pat of his hand on the space beside him that I should lie down beside him. I did so, more out of apprehension of starting another fight than anything else. Wordlessly, he stripped off my clothes, stripped off his trousers, turned my back to him and entered me. Then he ordered me off the mattress to go and lay on my mat because he wanted to sleep alone."

".....Akobi beat me a lot at home, yes, but somehow I identified beatings like this with home. That African men also beat their wives in Europe somehow didn’t fit into my glorious picture of European life."

"At first I didn’t understand, because here, we hear always that African people are hard workers and love work because God made them specially for the hard work of the world…"

"Why couldn’t I take control of my own life, since after all, I was virtually husbandless and, what did my husband care about a woman’s virtue? If I was sleeping with men and charging them for it, it was me giving myself to them. The body being used and misused belonged to me."

"You were green then, Mara. Totally green. And I was also in love with Osey then. And I did what Osey ordered me to do. I was his property then, Mara. I love him. Mara. I really did."

"My husband brings me from home to a foreign land and puts me in a brothel to work, and what money I make, he uses to pay the rent on his lover’s apartment, to renovate a house for her in village back home. I came to Gerhardt expecting the worst, but this was even worse than I had conceived of."

"After all, I was also party to it all even if involuntarily. And I guess that my punishment for it is that I am stuck with Oves for the rest of my life. I have decided to stop thinking about ever going home. I just don’t belong there any longer."

"Your life is your road, Mara. God puts you at the start of this road and propels you to walk on, and only He knows where your road will end, but it is the road He choose for you and you must walk it with gratefulness because it’s the best for you."

"I have decided to stop thinking about ever going home. I just don’t belong there any longer."

"Girls are pressurized to prove their womanhood whether they can adequately care for a child or not. You know the popular saying, don't you? 'You give birth. God will take care of the child' "."

"Before I went there, I knew by all means she would give me food. But this woman gave me more. She hugged me. I was dirty. I smelled bad. But she hugged me...Sometimes I wish to be hugged even if I am smelling of the streets"

"...the nurturing of another prospective soul into the devouring jaws of the street, a life brought forth for the sake of bringing forth"

"...when the seed of a curse finds fertile ground in a human mind, it spreads with the destructive speed of a creeping plant. And while it does, it nurtures superstition, which in turn, eats into all reasoning abilities and the capability of facing responsibility"

"“You have to look at your art as a commodity, and you have to understand how the world of commerce works. Otherwise, it can leave a bitter taste in your mouth, and leave you quite disillusioned.”"

"“As a human being, you retain the right to your freedom - mental, physical, emotional, financial, sexual, etc. Being a young African we’ve been bred with our core values out of fear.”"

"Nobody owes you anything. It’s really up to you to make the best out of situations"

"Power changes hands. Be respectful and kind to everyone, you never know whose help you might need."

"My parents were my first major influences. They ran a literary magazine called Imagine, which had stories about Accra; articles on art, science, film, books; cartoons—which I especially loved. They were (and still are) my heroes. I discovered Toni Morrison when I was thirteen, and I was hooked. I devoured everything she wrote. I remember reading Paradise, and while its meaning completely evaded me then, I was left feeling like it was the most amazing book written and that one day I wanted to write a world full of strong female characters, just like Ms. Morrison had done."

"“Commonwealth of Massachusetts"

"Belinda Sutton’s Petition"

"You may write me down in history, but still like dust, I rise."

"To my great pride my citation for my OBE was as chair of the Society of Black Architects. I am a campaigning architect. That’s what I do. It’s part of my architectural life."

"Justice has been wounded in the past week."

"[...] the Chief Justice who should know the law, threw away any sense of integrity and decency and went for the land-grab. It is a travesty that this same person, the Chief Justice, is the one who is appointing judges to sit on cases to decide on whether the land-grab is lawful or not."

"Sometimes it’s important to hold your mentee’s hand and guide them towards opportunities they never knew existed."

"The world will make room for us. The more women push for senior roles, the harder it will be to ignore them.""

"Actually, to date, 2019 has been the most exciting year for me not only personally, but also career-wise. It was a real honour to be selected for the L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science award. I was introduced to all these incredible scientists and I met some pretty amazing people. To be selected for the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World early career fellowship later the same year honestly started to make me feel a bit invincible. It felt that all the good things that were happening to me were happening to me in the same year."

"I’m a pharmacist so one of my strengths is in chemistry, in pharmaceutical chemistry. I have developed an interest in plants as therapeutics because, as we know, a lot of the medicines that we currently have, found their source from nature, which happens to be a very rich source for new therapeutics. We do not have too many highly effective medicines that can affect conditions of the brain. So, that’s why I’m very interested in developing new therapeutics."

"When I started my career, I started to realise that there were a lot of things that I could have done if I had received the right guidance earlier. There are also a lot of things I would have done differently. Because of that I see myself as the person whose job it is to give younger people proper guidance. I like to open up people’s lives so that they can see what options they have in this world. The world is actually open and they are free to choose what they would like to do. They are free to try things. If it does not work out, they are free to start all over again."

"As women, we often say that when a woman decides to have a career it is not always as easy as it would be for her male counterpart. We have been saying this to the extent that it is beginning to sound like a cliché. However, that is the truth of the matter. It is never easy for us women, especially when we grow up in very traditional societies. Right now, we are at the point where women have opportunities available to them."

"We can do almost anything that the man is allowed to do, but, that still does not absolve us of what is considered our traditional roles. Leaving the office at 8pm, I get home and I still have to cook a meal from scratch. I had to constantly explain why getting married first was not my plan and that getting my PhD first was actually my plan. I feel that a lot of the discrimination we suffer is born out of unconscious bias – most people don’t even realise that they are discriminating against us."

"Have discussions with God on the go. Be business-focused and ignore distractions. Be humble and respect all. Do not seek confirmation from another. Only God. Trust your intuition. Move above the best speed you can. When you identify your leading product, run with it."

"“Start with the limited capital you have, never give up, seek knowledge on ideas before and after initiating, diversity in skills within an entrepreneurial team is an important factor for success, networking is an important thing in the business world and passion for a business is good but not enough, commitment and determination sustain it.”"

"That point was, and still is, that all women are working women and their work should be valued. Women do housework, care work, looking after children but none of this is reflected in the statistics. Outside of the home, their work tends to be low paid and in segregated areas. I am an economist. We at the ILO were looking at how women’s work could be counted, because what is not counted is not valued."

"The situation for women has improved since then. We see laws on gender equality, maternity leave and equal opportunity. Since Beijing a number of countries embraced the concept of the girl child and several have adopted policies to ensure that girls go to school. At the University of Ghana, where I am Chancellor, there are more women students than men."

"I know that women in the world I grew up in did not have a voice. The truth is that at the high table we still do not have enough women. The policymakers are still mainly men. We need to woo enlightened men to back our quest for equality because unless we make men champions for gender equality there will never be a permanent change."

"The world we live in has changed exponentially since the Legal Professions Act was passed 62 years ago, and there is an urgent need for its revision to reflect these changes and make the training of lawyers in Ghana more relevant and in tune with the world we live in today."

"I would like to reiterate the need to balance the training of the large number of lawyers that are needed in the country with the quality of education offered, as well as the provision of human and material resources of the institutions that train our lawyers."

"Brand management is so important. Whilst not playing anything down, we must make sure that Ghana thrives in a competitive environment because things Ghanaian are known, loved and wanted. We must push and we will be okay. We are very modest as Ghanaians, we don’t blow our own trumpet. But in this competitive world, let’s put our Christian modesty aside and boast a little bit."

"Ghana’s tremendous efforts aimed at revitalizing the economy. A good number of sectors of the economy have totally recovered. I am sure the economy will recover, the ultimate recovery of the economy rests on the shoulders of business owners."

"That as always, I will devote my time and talents to her (Ghana) call and serve her (Ghana) to the best of my ability."

"It is important to learn how to push yourselves and get up because in Ghana, if you move one step, it pushes you back three steps but that is not the reason for not pursuing your ambitions so keep doing it until you become successful."

"we need to enhance creativity in the schools.It is very important for our country. It’s my hope to be at some point and some level with design. I added entrepreneurship because after school the designer becomes business people in our own area."

"I am a disciplined, principled, and determined woman. I always set goals for myself and make sure I achieve them. This explains why I have been able to manage her time successfully and played my role as a wife, a mother, a teacher and a shop owner."

"My vision in the next few years is to own different shops in different parts of Africa, Europe and the US, expand my production line and invest in men’s clothes"

"They must learn to set goals for themselves and work towards achieving such goals"

"To sew is one thing but one needs to understand the business end of it. It is necessary that people come to see that talent can only take you so far, the ability to apply proper business principles will define many who will make it in the industry and those who, unfortunately, will sink."

"In the past, mothers would lock it up in a trunk and have it is passed from generation to generation. We didn’t get to wear it unless it was some amazing occasion."

"I wanted to change the way Kente was kept and used. I believed that you could actually cut Kente and use it to do almost everything."

"I feel like what I’m doing is a calling so I think I have arrived at what I was supposed to do in the first place and I’ve always followed it so I don’t have regrets in anything that I have done. I always knew fashion was an area I was going to venture into."

"I say they should stay focused, committed and dedicated in their thoughts and their minds and the direction they are going."

"Customers do not call me on my personal line. Everything business is done at work so that it doesn’t come home. So the weekend is spent with my children. So I advise mothers to find a structure in their lives that they will use to be able to run their businesses as well as manage the children at home."

"I enjoy the fact that every day brings a new challenge and a fresh opportunity for me to make a positive impact on our society through the flagship programme of This Morning."

"I am bright colors with a mixture of summer flowers. I am sensitive and made up of emotions and poetry. Also, I’m a woman who allows myself to grow through feeling everything in full."

"I’m a woman boss with a voice, dreams, stories to tell and the ability to tell them. My motivation is that I’m blessed with a gift and because of that, I get to walk and live my life with a purpose."

"Impact your world right where you find yourself and in whatever you find yourself doing. Dream big, and create the future you desire through hard work, integrity, and a positive attitude."

"There are no short cuts to success. Do your best in all things, and trust God to do what only He can do. Never stop believing. Keep investing in yourself, and invest in others. Never walk alone."

"Do you love it enough to want to plug through the hard times? Are you willing to persevere? What is the message you want to put across? Tell it the best way possible! Be patient, be grounded, know your craft – the success will come."

"I believed in this dream, I knew it was what we needed in this part at the time and I was really inspired to go ahead and pursue my dreams."

"We weren’t watered down, and looking at African design through a European prism was not the goal. It was about observing the diverse range of our work and the represented brands."

"I am honoured and excited to be among top 10 designers from across the world selected to showcase the Qipao at the National Silk Museum in Hangzhou, China. As a Ghanaian designer, it is a great privilege and matter of national pride to represent Ghana on a global stage such as this."

"If ‘Ophelia’, a girl from Osu, can do it, then nothing can stop you from achieving your dreams. Go out and create your magic."

"I feel like the starting point of success is acceptance of reality."

"I'm always going to stand for the truth and the truth is sensitive."

"Work hard till your critics become your dancers."

"Every artiste you’ve seen on top isn’t doing what they’re doing carnally... I live by the motto 'work hard and have faith'."

"Feminism isn’t about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength."

"I am extremely proud and excited to announce my role as the new National Director for Miss Universe Ghana. I will be working diligently with my team to make sure we make Ghana proud."

"As a former titleholder, the Miss Universe experience taught me a great deal and has shaped me to be the woman I am today. I am very passionate about building and maintaining the reputation of the Miss Universe Ghana pageant in my role as National Director."

"My wife - she's my manager, she's my, she's my coach, she's my everything, she's my everything."

"When you treat a woman right you always get a beautiful home… respect is key. I respect her (Menaye) a lot and she also respects me. People talk a lot but we are focused."

"For me, very little gets to me, except to do my work that I have to do and I must say up till now, I still believe that 99.99% of the judiciary from magistrates all the way to the Chief Justice, they are there to simply do their work."

"It's been going on in this country (Ghana) for the longest time, when I was appointed by President w:Jerry Rawlings, I became an NDC judge. When I make a decision against the NDC, I became an NPP judge and so on and so forth...and these are some of the unnecessary pressures that are put on the judiciary, not by anybody saying go this way or that way, but public perception, sometimes it gets to you."

"And you know what, I cannot fathom the reason for something being done in a particular way, especially when its been done for others but its not being done for others, I start getting suspicious, I have grown to the age where I have seen it all, and therefore I easily become suspicious."

"It's (being a Judge) been full, it's been interesting, it's been restful. and I can choose my times more effectively than before...but for me, it's been very good...no I have served, I finished, I'm happy to be retired, I'm happy I'm not each time saddled with having to write judgements and agonizing with decisions and so on and so forth...so, I really don't miss the work. And I don't think that most judges after a long pause on the bench miss the daily grind, I doubt it."

"There are standards for the public service...and conflict of interest is something that always can be dealt with, whether it is written in black and white or not... and conflict of interest does not necessarily have to be actual; it can be potential."

"Everything in this world that you can arrange in such a way that the dealings are at an arm's length is better than somebody's arm twisted and another person's arm is in their pocket."

"If you insist on ideology....which I thought was outdated after Communism....Maybe I can say I am egalitarian."

"If by the grace of God, I've got a voice why shouldn't I use it? In fact, I've decided that after this I am always going to find a voice to espouse. Why shouldn't I? I think that is why God has given me life beyond retirement and I think that every day after retirement I must use it to worship God."

"Nobody tells me what to think, except God and nobody can tell me what to do with my time and what to say about anything going on in this country (Ghana). Thank God we have a constitution, flawed though it might be but at least the right to say what I want to say and the freedom of conscience, that's mine and nobody will trample on it however influential they are."

"I find it wicked, I find it disrespectful, I find it unlawful, I find it totally wrong, period! Because you don’t solve your problems by sacrificing your aged. That is the last thing you should do."

"When they are sounding hopeful, it is about getting a visa of one type or the other or getting a university admission outside. Most often their eyes and hope are external and not in Ghana which I think is extremely sad.”"

"For how long are we going to be in this situation or circumstance where you don’t really see much hope in the eyes of young people? When you get talking to them they don’t sound too hopeful."

"am not an economist I don’t stay awake because of the details of the economy but many times what keeps me awake is what is going to happen to the young people."

"Those are the things that make me sad because somebody with PhD should actually be seeing themselves as employing people who will be employing other people."

"If it takes money to do that then there should be access to that money without being necessarily identifiable that you are from here or from there."

"Sophia Akuffo is a different type of human being. She doesn't need to do this, but she's doing it! God bless her."

"It's a profound honour to be associated with the Vlisco brand and carry the torch from my predecessor, Eugenia Tachie-Menson, who performed her role so well. I am incredibly honoured to fill the shoes of such great women. I want to thank everyone who voted for me and I'm looking forward to the year ahead (2016)."

"I fully support Ghanaians/Africans living outside helping to develop our countries and continent...we all leave our countries for various reasons, but I believe it is important for us to have tangible connections to ensure our participation in our countries’ development even while we are away."

"My values of authenticity and originality align with Vlisco’s brand personality. It is an honour to join the league of Dr Mrs Ellen Hagan; Eugenia Tachie-Menson; Elizabeth Akua-Nyarko Patterson; Regina Honu; Edith Uyovbukerhi and Yawa Hansen-Quao, who I am taking over from as Brand Ambassador. It is exciting to be recognised for the work we do and what we stand for as women. I look forward to shaping the future of this nation with my experience under the umbrella of the Vlisco brand."

"I strongly believe that every individual possesses untapped potential, and by helping them realise their full potential, communities, industries, countries, and the continent can make sustainable economic progress that creates true prosperity."

"Young people are demonstrating their creativity, leadership, and desire to lead the change that our continent (Africa) desperately needs. They want an opportunity to come together in a way that allows them to think, share and co-create solutions to the problems such as youth unemployment, building scalable enterprises and driving systemic change in their countries."

"All of life comes together to form who we are but sometimes, it's significant events that have a bigger impact than the normal day-to-day brand and I think coming to Ghana, the biggest thing that set me off was the fact that Ghana had that famine in 1983."

"You live in a connected world where your competition is not the guy sitting next to you, for you the human factor or your competition could be someone sitting in Canada, the UK or Australia. The human factor is bridged and access to a job is no longer dependent on location. Increasingly you will find people who are able to do your job remotely. That is a real fact and challenge which means over time your career will face competitive pressure that is not local."

"Some of the jobs we have today will be eroded, sometimes by technology but mostly by someone else who has found a more efficient way of doing and delivering it over the internet. Globally, people are paying attention to trends including skillsets required for jobs in Africa in the next decade. You cannot afford to be left out of this conversation. As young people, you need to position yourselves to take advantage of the current and future opportunities by staying relevant and informed."

"I am ... proud of the fact that over the years, I have been able to demonstrate to Ghana and the world that leadership is not a function of gender. I believe that black women, African women, are able to lead big businesses."

"Success doesn't just happen. It is as a result of years of learning and training."

"Despite what you may read, our world is not progressing quickly enough on critical issues of economic equity, environmental protection and the assurance of peace. It's as though, for all our smarts, we cannot accept each other as worthy of the basics of human lives around the globe; the excess of a few sometimes comes at the expense of many."

"Instead of waiting to be given the opportunity to be relevant, women need to assert and claim their place in the Tech industry by equipping themselves with knowledge about the industry, being exceptionally great at what they do and even greater when it comes to soft skills such as communications and human relations."

"For a long time, we (society) have given the tech industry an image women do not wish to be part of. Technology has been given a masculine face and attitude. First everyone expects males to be dominant in this field, then when a woman turns up, she is still expected to be masculine."

"We need to support, empower and encourage more women and girls into the field (technology). I have seen and met with some of the amazing young women in Tech and I am very confident the great work they are doing will inspire even more young women and girls into the field."

"I dedicate this (award) to every African child who dares to dream. Dream big, discern the voices that are for you, stay focused and enjoy the journey. The award is a testimony that the dream of every child in Africa is achievable."

"I see football and sport in general but particularly today football as an extremely important part of our development as individuals and our development as a nation. Sport is about development, it is about skill, it is about commitment, it is about dedication, it is about the tenacity to win against the odds, it is about the willingness to say that I will go the extra mile, even though at this point in time, I am exhausted, I am tired, my muscles are aching and I have a team counting on me and more importantly in their case I have a nation counting on me."

"Empowering young people through STEM is one of the surest ways to guarantee a better future for them, our country and continent. STEM inspires curiosity in young people and empowers them to be problem solvers and innovators. These skill sets are critical for success in any profession."

"I think every reformation or transformation project is a change project, isn't it? When you are managing change, the levels of challenges are varied, but I think the most important aspect of change which can become a challenge that needs to be managed upfront is that ultimately change affects people and we need to take people on a journey with us so that we embrace the fact that we change together."

"ICT and telecoms bring lots of convenience to people. It powers dreams and shapes aspirations. It connects family, friends and colleagues to collectively deliver extraordinary outcomes. For those who know me well in the industry, they will tell you that mt resolve is to better the lives of women, children and the less-privileged in society through Technology. I look forward to the day when together, we will make Ghana the technology hub of Africa for talents and breakthrough innovations that will transform the continent."

"We cannot afford to being happy to get by! We need to collectively step up and create our future. We can't keep blaming 'leaders'! We are all in."

"Today, football has become an extremely important part of our development as individuals and our development as a nation (Ghana). Sports is about development, it is about skill, it is about commitment, it is about dedication, it is about the tenacity to win against the odds, it is about the willingness to say that I will go the extra mile. There is so much more to it and we collectively should leverage football to drive our country (Ghana) forward because it is one of the few things that we all agree on."

"Whatever you do, whatever the situation, continue trying something new, new ideas, location, opportunities; but whatever it is, please try. If it works, you learn from it. Life is full of taking risks, learning and making progress."

"“even in leadership positions, many women are still treated as less-worthy peers. They are expected to be grateful for their inclusion, as though they did not work even harder than their male counterparts to get there. They are spoken to as subordinates by less qualified colleagues. Their ideas are discredited until those same ideas are articulated by a male colleague and then, suddenly, they are seen as the best ideas.”"

"Instead of waiting to be given the opportunity to be relevant, women need to assert and claim their place in the Tech industry.” on empowerment and gender inclusion in technology"

"Lucy is a trailblazer, a woman in leadership; fashionable and inspiring. She represents a queen, a change maker, a leader who inspire and she is our Ambassador who will help project the diversity and equality messages."

"Lucy is acclaimed for her selfless drive to mentor the next generation of leaders to create sustainable outcomes. Her commitment and devotion to mentoring young people on several platforms can be seen in her very successful launch of Evolve with STEM - an initiative to transform mindsets and inspire young people to embrace Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics."

"Gdansk is beautiful. I like multicultural cities. I came here at the beginning of the year (2021) and worked the entire preparation period with the team (AP Loros Gdansk). I am from outside Europe so playing in different leagues was a challenge for me."

"I wanted to play football from the age of seven, although my mother says that I had been digging other items before. It was a dream come true for me to be able to play in Europe. I was prepared for it much earlier. At the beginning, it was not easy because I had a collision with low temperatures, which was new to me. Today I'm used to it."

"Priscilla came to Gdańsk at the beginning of January (2021), so she already had some time to acclimatize, but we realize that in her case this period may be a bit different than in the case of the Polish players. That is why all club employees try to do everything to make her feel as good as possible in Gdańsk. I am also glad that the other players received her warmly. I believe Priscilla will bring a lot to the team's offensive performance."

"Requesting that policewomen should be allowed to marry, get pregnant and have children as and when they wanted was a very important one for all those who came after them."

"It is heart-warming to hear that a policewoman acted as the IGP while others are now commissioners and deputy commissioners, as during our time the highest rank for women was Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)."

"We share in your loss and would support the family to ensure the late Madam Nkansah is given a befitting burial."

"I remember countless times where I played barefoot or without shin pads and was injured many times, but if you love the game, you love the game. Football is everything, it’s part of my identity nobody can take away from me."

"We need more opportunities to showcase what we can do. It’s sad to see talent go to waste because of a lack of opportunities, but the fact that there is NSW African Women's Cup shows how much the game has changed. We have many girls of African heritage who are good players. A competition like this definitely opens up opportunities for those of us who have been working really hard and that's exciting."

"Comparing South Africa's modeling industry to that of Ghana, theirs is far better. Here people don't have that will to give their all to help the fashion and modeling industry. Sometimes we do our job and deserve to be paid with a respectable amount but we don't get it. I have always modeled for free, otherwise underpaid. The job doesn't even come everyday and when you get it, you are not paid."

"I went into the show (M-Net Face of Africa) with the aim to win. I have tried the Face of Africa before but I could not make it. So I said to myself I have to do something this year (2008) to win to open doors for me since I'm part of it. I gave in my hundred percent best. That is what I did."

"Having the face that represents the African continent is absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am very grateful. I know there are many other young, talented teenagers, and even adults, from all over Africa who get inspiration from me, so I am eager to do interesting things and set a good example to them. Being an icon means people are interested in me. They want to see what happens to me next, what I will do with my future, what attitude and behavior I carry with me. There is a large amount of opportunity for an icon and for me right now - being in the public eye elevates opportunity. It depends on how well you adapt to the opportunities that secures ongoing success and ultimate happiness."

"I'm so happy right now because after having the door closed on me the first time, I did not give up and worked hard to be what the judges wanted"

"On the judging panel, it was clear to us all that Kate was perfectly suited to be the next Face of Africa. She had a quiet determination to succeed that we found irresistible. We were impressed by the resolve she showed by getting into such great shape, in order to win."

"She's (Kate) the complete package, a fashion designers dream, a girl that magazine editors will embrace and that catwalks are made for. We believe she has what it takes to become a supermodel"

"I was overjoyed when I heard the news and I later celebrated with my friends. I believe it's the work of God. I feel proud that my efforts have been recognised but it also places an enormous burden of expectation on me when I play for Ghana."

"I have never seen female footballers who are lesbians over the years as a footballer. It is untrue that female footballers are lesbians. I never saw my colleague footballers having any sexual encounters. So I will deny the claims and ask the public to rubbish them and treat same with the contempt it deserves."

"One major problem facing the Women’s League in this country (Ghana) is the lack of sponsorship. I believe they can do better. I would also like to use this opportunity to plead with corporate bodies to come on board and sponsor the Women’s league in Ghana."

"It was this game (against Nigeria), I wouldn’t like to watch it, I couldn’t eat for about a week. The whole nation (Ghana) was behind us and it was a big opportunity for us to make it for the first time. We had the advantage after Mamunatu saved two penalty kicks but unfortunately we couldn’t capitalize on that. It was a very sad moment for all the players and for me I will say it is the most painful defeat suffered during my time with the team."

"We must now strategize on how to bounce back strongly as a nation than to crucify members of the team."

"It's time we allow the women to show their worth, a female for a female team and a male for a male team which is practiced everywhere or better still get the technical directors of the FA to guide her but i will be very surprised if the head coach post is given to a male."

"Adjoa Bayor is one of the biggest assets we have as a nation (Ghana) in regards to women’s football. I want Adwoa Bayor to be involved in the team (Black Queens). She can contribute to the team alot. She can be a role model to the younger girls. She can create a huge impact."

"Let us resolve to put in our best, it calls for little bit of sacrifice and commitment than we have been showing. We should think of what we can do to assist the corporation than what the corporation can do for us, we are better if not best when we resolve to do so."

"Being in a male-dominated environment means you must be, at the very least, twice as good as your male counterparts."

"People become and stay financially independent when they have a viable source of economic livelihood"

"I am from a very poor background so I only need to work hard to achieve success and be who I was before i became a star and that had made me very unique and to remain simple as well."

"It's not just about music but everything we just love the foreign stuff so looking at our numbers and the way our system has been infiltrated with foreign things how can we get the level where people are complaining about."

"I like to mind my business all the time so I’ll advise that you also mind your business, and you’ll avoid all the wrinkles. Also, be grateful and content with what you have. I know we hear this all the time, but someone doesn’t even have what you have."

"You think you have only 5 cedis, but guess what, someone doesn’t even have anything, so be very grateful and just keep fighting. As for the Akpl3, that’s the number one secret to my evergreen forever young looks, but the other one is that I mind my business."

"The song Destiny, basically, I'm taking control of my life, and I am the one in charge of it. Nobody else can move my life in any other way. Just me. It's inspired by everything my life is saying today. Like, I have just been moving like this at my own pace, in my own time."

"Destiny just has to do with me as a person and my journey so far. I started from, like, a very low point in my life. Very timid, very shy, not confident at all. I had so many... If I say mental, people will take it out of context, but I was not very okay here (head) and here (heart). But just going through life, going through music, people I've met on the way, it just brought me to a very beautiful point."

"Trends are not timeless, timeless songs are unique in that they are something that comes out of specific moments. They are things that come from the heart but the danceable songs will always come and go and we all have some of these songs."

"I don't see when I am performing unless I take a really good look and stare, but not really. It helped me when I started music and I was very nervous about the crowd because, when I got on stage, I will not see anybody."

"I think music is free. You can't tell a painter what to paint because they are from Ghana. It's a feeling so when you enter the studio and you feel like singing a French song, sing it...it's a creative art so people create...so you can't force anyone into a box."

"I’m not an expert in dating. So, I didn’t know how to read red flags and all that, but now I can spot a red flag from a man. You have to be a Christian. I don’t want to be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t believe in God, who is not saved."

"I picked home economics because I was lazy. I didn’t want to learn. I came to understand that it is one of the toughest things to actually do. Because the practical consumes so much of your time that you are unable to read your book. It was tough, and that’s where I learned my first lesson: nothing in life is easy. Everything is difficult. So far as you want to succeed at it, it is difficult,"

"It’s crazy, it’s not easy to come up with an album. There’s so much work around it."

"We jell on the creative level, so you know music is a universal language and it brings everybody together. It doesn't matter where you are from or what language you speak so that's what we always vibe as musicians."

"If you have realized, I don't use alcohol, drugs and dress half-naked. This is because of what my parent thought about the music industry. I want to clear that thinking."

"Coming this far has not been easy, I feel older and wiser now. It also feels good, it has been an interesting journey with a lot of highs and lows, loads of lessons learnt which have all made me a much better person. Just like anyone else in this world, life is not a bed of roses all the time, somethings have come through from learning from one’s mistakes, but we thank God for where we are right now."

"It's sad because there are women who are making it through hard work and just going through the way life is. So, people shouldn't judge quickly but at the same time, at the end of the day, people also have their own opinions. Most at times, some of these opinions are not true...People should just mind their own business."

"Thinking about it, my lows have brought me this far, so I can't even complain and highs have been that I have just grown into myself a bit, the confidence is there, the music is more matured, yeah, I'm just loving everything I'm doing, the exposure is great, I'm meeting amazing people, just learning from them and my pocket is full."

"This music thing was never a part of my plans at all, I grew up really confused, I had no idea what I wanted to become so every time my mind was changing on what profession I want to do. Music is a blessing I stumbled upon because I was so confused about what I wanted to do until it just came to me accidentally, coming into it from my life before where I was very reserved and quiet."

"Our generation is so pressed! So fast! And so unhappy. TAKE A DEEP BREATH. Get present in the moment and ask yourself what is important this very second."

"It was fantastic, this is actually my first event that I have planned with my team like this is the first time I've been very involved in a concert concerning me. So it was very interesting to see how the process was like and it was very nice to know that I have so much love from my colleagues in the music industry."

"I get a lot of people trying to get me into trouble by saying things about me that are untrue. I hear stuff about me that I sometimes want to respond to but when I look at my brand and my focus, I intentionally forget about everything and let it go. Staying out of trouble is so easy for me but I wonder why some celebrities are not able to do so."

"Going online to exchange words or explaining myself about a particular issue about me is the last thing I would ever do. Ignoring my haters is so simple for me. I have been doing it over the years and it has really helped my brand. That is the reason my issues are not out there. More so, I want to work with serious brands and I know good brands don’t want celebrities with too much drama around them."

"I am very emotional and the last thing I want to see is for a friend or someone I know to betray me. I cannot just stand that so I keep very few friends I trust so that I don’t get hurt. It takes a while for my heart to heal when it gets broken."

"I’m really grateful for the love, truth is, I was not expecting it like that and I am grateful to everyone. I must say, the love and affection shown me since I my come back is more than before and I’m humbled. You see, there are others who take a break, come back and it doesn’t work out for them but I have been showed something different."

"Music is what I do, I love music so yes it has been worth it, it was very necessary that I come back and I’m glad I did."

"I am not one of those who concentrate on regrets, I believe everything we go through are life lessons, the mistakes, they all make us better people."

"I will not give away my freedom for anything, I was not enslaved but it had its advantages and disadvantages but I have come to like being on my own more. I don't want to give this up, maybe not just yet. At a point, I was lost and really didn't know what was going on with me."

"So I knew that this day will come and people will see that it was a lot of work I was putting into my craft so i wasn't worried at all at first."

"Our (music) industry is one that has a lot of things going on; everyone is fighting for fame so I will say it is a dirty one but in the sense that, the industry is really crazy so they have to be patient."

"The music industry is progressing, I don’t see Ghana music today the same as it was. Things are getting better every single day; the shows and security have become better. There’s more room for improvement on everyone’s side."

"I was deeply sad all the time. Very angry all the time, I didn't want to talk to anyone...I was just really away from everybody. Depression gets to a point where you don't even know what in particular is worrying you. It's so many things you've harboured for so long and you explode at a point and you don't know why but you are just sad. I've always known that I was not okay but 2018 was the height of everything."

"If we don't speak up, nothing will change. Join me in taking a stand against all forms of child abuse. Be a Ghanaian Against Child Abuse."

"Most often, we talk and act like we can do things on our own but that is not the truth, we all need help at some point in our lives and I believe our music industry is not different. We first have to admit we need help, put down the kind of help we need and we move from there."

"If I was not doing music, my life would have been boring. I do not see what I would be good at, I can’t do an 8 to 5 job. I am the kind of person who wants to be on the go every time, music is my everything."

"Girls, we are a different breed, we have too many things going on with us and girls live by what they hear and how they feel. Girls easily fall for pressure. If you are not brought up with that confidence and you don't have people who keep telling you being you is 100% enough you will fall really easily."

"I am not jealous at all. You know per the human nature, it is expected that someone gets jealous when things like this happen but the truth is, I am not all because for me, music is not a race or a competition, it is about passion."

"When I started music, some people were telling me to deviate a little bit from my personality, that is, wear something more explicit and sing more explicit songs, but I told them it wouldn't last because I couldn't sustain it. I have been this way from the beginning and I would not change, and that is why my brand has lasted."

"It hasn’t been an easy journey on a truthful note, God has been good to me. Many people started long before I ever dreamt of charting this path but I can boast of awards and many international nominations as well. I think it’s not by my might but the handiwork of God that I have reached this height of my career."

"Dance moves do not make me good in bed neither am I what they perceive me to be when they see me on stage or in my music videos. The truth of the matter is that, I love to dance and I am good at twisting and winding my waist which so far, I think has been very helpful to me as a performer."

"Well, I am that kind of person who just does her work and any awards that comes surprises me. I don't put my mind on awards or anything like that so when they come they do surprise me."

"If she (MzVee) says she does everything on her own, I wrote most of her songs, I don't think it's disrespectful. I wrote Daavi, Come and See My Mother featuring Yemi Alade, and I Don't Know so she didn't do anything by herself. She doesn't do stuff on her own, as she claims. I have helped, so I'm just hoping that she will appreciate rather than making it look like I never did anything for her. Because I never took even GHS1 from her."

"I watched MzVee's recent interview with Delay, she is not cured. MzVee is still depressed because depression is not cured - it's manageable. The church does not manage depression, it would rather give you false hope. MzVee currently into the music scene is no different from the depressed MzVee. She broke bounds from the house, an indiscipline behaviour that she should be disciplined."

"Yes - her (MzVee) colleague musician Efya could offer help but that's not enough. The last time I watched her interview with Delay critically, she's still going through depression. When you're treated properly out of depression, the sort of things that earlier made you feel bad, you'll be okay with it now no matter how long they say to offend you. We call it total recovery in professional counselling. She needs to seek professional counselling if she wants to go ahead with her music, else whatever happened to her when it's being repeated, she'll break down."

"She is MzVee. She has been in that legendary state. She’s released back-to-back so you can say she wants to rest for some time and give the new guys some room to propagate."

"I always see Wiyaala on TV. I sing MzVee's songs everyday. Today I am seeing them. I think I am dreaming."

"MzVee and I work together a lot so we spend a lot of time together. We have become good friends and nothing more, there is nothing romantic between us."

"MzVee is a woman I feel. She is beautiful, intelligent and has the shape I want from my ideal woman. Most of all, she is a Dancehall artiste and based on this, the two of us click very well."

"I am a winner; I am a superstar How you see yourself is just how you are No compromising, no second-guessing Stay true to yourself and you’re gonna make it far! Can’t stop my Destiny, it’s my Identity!!."

"I will rule my destiny I’m unique, I’m not common Let me tell you where I come from In the ghetto, not London Mama told me you’re a champion You gon make it on the long run."

"I go like spend my life with somebody like you Give me the ring I will collect Mama I'm coming home, tell Papa am coming home Take my hand and carry me go."

"“Ote Me Mu.”"

"So the thing about me is, I’ve always considered myself to be a very versatile artist. From the very first EP, all five to six songs on are completely different and I’ve never wanted to box myself."

"Going for a reality show developed me as an artist. Vodafone Icons helped develop me as an artist, I am Cina Soul because of my time on Vodafone Icons, I may not have won but being on the show gave me an identity. I know a lot of people out there have faith and believe in me so I have to make everyone proud by giving it my all."

"My music career began in school but got firm and strong after I had completed and put in much effort in to building it."

"What ever sound that comes to me in the studio, that’s what comes out be it highlife, Afro beat, or Afro-pop."

"It was for a moment. I released an EP called Ga Mashi during that moment, so it makes sense to be that persona for that moment. If I've gone past that project and released an EP called For Times We Lost that is very Afrobeats/HipHop, whu do I keep doing that? All this is intentional, I like to be different persona with every project I put out. I love to stay different all the time."

"My glam team don't sleep, they are always on point and always trying to make me look good because my image is really important...every space am in, they want me to stand out."

"When I started music people used to look down on me because I was smallish. There were some instances where I went to events and the organisers asked how old I was and I added five years to my age."

"There is something called psychology in music, psychology is just studying peoples behaviour and my background as a psychology student has influenced the kind of things I say in my songs and people say my music is therapeutic."

"Sometimes, some labels just preach a lot before they sign you, but you get in there and you don't see anything. I remember when I actually was with Universal when I recorded Ojorley, they didn't want the song. And that's my biggest song too. That's how funny it was. I actually got signed to the Universal Music record label, and I'm independent again, I have been independent for a longer time."

"It's hard to penetrate the Ghanaian music market, your music probably won't sell, people wouldn't like you, some people who have grown in the industry will tell you that your music won't sell. Sometimes these comments can break you and you tend to ask yourself would this music that I'm doing yield results at all...Even people would sometimes sabotage you."

"I think finding your sound or what makes you unique is always the hardest part because there are a million artists around the world. Even in Ghana, there are thousands, so what will make you stand out? It’s like at every point, you find a different type or different side of you."

"I think she (Cina Soul) is actually extremely good. Soul’s voice is like something that can represent us (Ghana) on an international scale. I know she’s gonna get there. I don’t know which song [will take her there]. When I saw King Promise I knew. But I didn’t know how. But I knew he was gonna be huge. And Cina Soul has that approach."

"Cina is a nice person and I like her vibe and I'll spend the whole day with her and even more. She is talented, I like her vibe and performance on stage and I'm a big fan."

"I love Cina Soul. I put her on my shows because I want to give her the kind of exposure that I didn't get when I was starting my music career with the kind of music that I was doing. And she has a beautiful talent that I think is gonna grow to become amazing and I'm here to support her as much as I can..."

"I for do what I can till I’m gone You touch me, you touch fire Let no man ever touch my crown."

"It is human behaviour. Sometimes you just have to understand. When you are in a competition, you should expect winners. And you should expect losers. So I understand. It's normal for a human being to behave like that."

"Thank you for being an inspiration for every young lady in Ghana. I remember the very first time I met you, you told me I reminded you a lot of yourself when you were young, because I am slim and you said to me: 'don't let them force you to gain weight. You're perfect the way you are' and I've never forgotten that."

"Known for her (Asabe Cropper) unique Kente culture, her traditional ‘Tekuwaa’ (headgear) her horns, beads, kente outfit and that silky voice with the Ada lyrics, she dazzled Ghanaians, together with her brother Kenteman, to woo the hearts of many Ghanaians in the ‘90s."

"“Society has brought us where we are, we’ve had people patronizing our wares and all of that, giving us pieces of advice on how to improve our business and the kind of things we should do that people want, so we see it has a time to give back to the society what society has given to us”."

"The influence of society on the people"

"There are times maybe you will be sitting down somewhere, very little things around can inspire you to create something”."

"Effect of Things"

"Initially it was difficult. People were not into giving out flowers. But with the course of time, they see beautiful things and yes I have this, I can do this in my house and all of that. So with that people started warming up to it."

"Sustainability should be integrated into every aspect of our lives. Businesses should be accountable for the indirect unintended consequences of supply and consumption."

"We started this particular initiative about a decade ago. The rationale is to utilize our raw materials and create employment for our youths even as we tackle climate change"

"The triple problems of poverty, unemployment, and environmental degradation have affected rural communities in Ghana and forced many youth from rural Ghana to migrate to the urban areas. One way of addressing these problems is to use local resources, maximize the skills of the people, and enable profitable partnerships throughout the value chain"

"In my culture, where age and gender impact on social status, being young and a woman is sometimes difficult, especially when meeting potential clients or business partners who can be judgmental. However, this has never stifled my potential or discouraged me. It’s the importance of sustainability for our future that keeps driving me to overcome these sorts of obstacles ."

"The bamboos are strong, meaning that the bicycles are also strong and durable. The bicycles have been in use for almost 10 years"

"I see entrepreneurship as a calling, not as a last resort for those who are looking for employment in the formal sector and not finding it."

"“I have come to learn to be patient and not give up too quickly. It takes patience and persistence to bring new and innovative products and ways of doing things to a community.”"

"Patience and persistence are essential when introducing innovation and new solutions to a community. No matter what happens, don’t give up too quickly in your business. Stay committed to your vision; you can bring positive change to Africa over time."

"Of course we all know that the economy is not doing well and our customers are not the multinationals but they are the everyday business men and women and so when they are affected we are also affected and because of that our loans have suffered and that has a ripple effect on interest rates. We also are borrowing expensive money because generally the interest rates in the country are very high."

"women are not new to leadership, over the years they have played their roles effectively to drive progress in their organisations and the society at large .But we continue to see gender disparity in corporate leadership, board appointments and representation in governments across the African continent. As leaders , we all have a role to play to drive gender balance and greater equality in our organisations, in government and the wider society."

"Tv3 and the entire Media general group seeks to continue to serve as the best and most authoritative provider in news and current affairs in the country, and is committed to developing educational content hence the need to work with the ministry to educate Ghanaians on the process of digital migration."

"Women are better at sustaining things than men. Women venturing into entrepreneurship shows that they will be able to grow their industries or organizations well to accommodate more people then, we all can live better lives."

"Entrepreneurship for Women. B&FT online, February 15, 2018."

"“You should be willing to listen and learn. You need to always look out for the long-term. And above all, you need to be focused.""

"Finding Success How we made it in Africa, 7 March, 2018."

"I want to be remembered for serving my community, whether it is through providing quality surgical care or helping mentor the next generation of surgeons. Everything about the match is special. It will be a dream come true."

"Don’t play innocent with me, Elaine. I already fell for that once…. I thought you were different…decent…. Turns out you’re just a cheap slut… and you had the nerve of accusing me of being in love with my dead wife. You are despicable."

"So you can tell me more lies?… You told me Kuuku’s father was dead and like the fool I was, I believed you…. I know everything, Elaine. This was all a game to you wasn’t it?"

"That event was labelled Esi-Apong,” Nana Abuna further explained but added, “the real pronunciation and spelling is Esi-pun."

"The old government documents bear ‘Esipun’ and we want to maintain the ‘Essipun’ instead of ‘Essipong."

"This is not for Esipun alone, but for the Western Region. We will have the restaurants and food vendors. We need to tap the full potential of the tournament."

"So now the case has been given to some neutral people to resolve and so I will not comment further to commit myself."

"Nobody has been able to tell me why he was arrested and killed. All his property has been confiscated until today."

"My husband might have been executed because Mr. Rawlings saw him as a threat to the AFRC regime."

"The truth about the execution of the officers is necessary for the sake of posterity and will also help avert the tendency to seek revenge and retribution."

"I have no Ill feeling towards those who executed my husband"

"Whenever I am in a relationship, I go all out for the person. I always put the people I love ahead of my needs. When I am in a relationship, I invest all my energy and resources which ends up draining me and slowing me down. I get turned off when I realize the affection is only one-sided."

"It is not something I'm looking forward to or looking at all. I'm not with anybody, but I'm not interested. I'm not looking forward to be with anybody because that is not my focus."

"It annoys me when some men take advantage of me after showing them love and care."

"Make it a habit to do something different" - Elizabeth-Irene Baitie."

"It's really just showing that there is more that you could be enjoying, that you could be learning from, that you could be reading."

"It is easy enough to be the first, we can each try something and be the first woman or the first African woman to do X, Y or Z. But, if it’s something worthwhile you don’t want to be the only. …I hope that I can, in any way, inspire someone to do what I have done but learn from my mistakes and do better than I have done."

"Sometimes people ask me how long it took me to put that together and I always say that it either took about a couple of years or all my life, depending on how you look at it."

"No, when you’re doing something you do it because you have a passion for doing it or you want to see it come to fruition but you’re not necessarily looking beyond that. It certainly has had an impact on people – people as readers, people as writers – because I think there were a lot of people who read that book who wanted to be writers and were influenced by it in one way or another. So, I guess it has had an influence and has a continuing influence; this new anthology demonstrates a continuing link to those writers and that whole literary history of women of African descent who are using words creatively, whether orature, spoken word, speeches, the written word, different genres."

"The internet has made it possible for writers to have greater visibility and to access different parts of their literary history but I don’t think things have necessarily changed so much towards literary responses to black women writers of African descent. Somehow a lot of praise is still kept on a few, as if they have to represent everybody, and they’re the only ones who will actually get that sort of literary accreditation and critical attention."

"It’s really just showing that there is more that you could be enjoying, that you could be learning from, that you could be reading. There are things that could open your mind, that could enlighten you that you have to seek out for yourself because it is not being offered within your formal curriculum."

"If I said to you, put together an anthology of two-hundred women of European descent that would include everyone from Jane Austen to JK Rowling – that would be difficult! You’d have left out a lot of people and that’s the case here: there are two-hundred wonderful contributors but there are many more that could’ve been in it – so it’s something that I’m proud of but something that in a strange way I’m not quite satisfied with. It’s never a question of saying this was a definitive anthology; the first one wasn’t definitive in that way and this one is not. But anyway it’s a start – I’ll do another one maybe."

"I don’t even know when they do that, sometimes I think that they can only think of a few people so they just bung me on! I think it’s an honour to be thought of in those grandiose terms but I’m not living my life with an ambition to be on some list and I’m not even sure that it’s true – but its a great honour!"

"Our unique makeup as women makes it very difficult and challenges our ability to function easily in a male dominated environment."

"a mother, to be able to achieve success in a professional job there is a fundamental need to be supported by your husband and free more roles on the domestic chores."

"My drive has always been to exceed expectation there, by not just meeting targets but exceeding it."

"I was born into a huge family; we’re 63 in number. And growing up, I had to defend myself from my brothers and that taught me how to stand up for myself in the outside world."

"Every Ghanaian has the ability to invest but procrastination is what is keeping everyone from attaining financial independence."

"For you to be able to create wealth, you need to be able to plan, you need to be disciplined, you need to have information and also you need to monitor. Without discipline, you can never be a millionaire."

"You cannot say you want to sacrifice career over family or sacrifice family for your career. You’ve got to balance it and that is what I did."

"“I never quit music. I have not stopped music."

"I didn’t put up any write-up; I didn’t say anything… I haven’t stopped music because I didn’t say I have."

"But when I see the stories that I have stopped music, I just laugh because before I got married, I went to school. Will you say I stopped music to go to school?."

"Doing music on your own is not easy especially creating your own support system."

"I would love to do music again. There’s nothing blocking me."

"Later when I am done with my Masters and I get the opportunity to work on my music I will."

"I believe that true innovation happens at intersections."

"Let’s think beyond payments. Payments should be the rails that support a vast array of financial products and services."

"Where we can be strengthened is in connecting more meaningfully with markets who are focused on banking and financing."

"If you can combine the ingenuity of African innovators with the experience of European bankers, you can create solutions that will give millions access to powerful financial tools."

"One of the biggest challenges is maintaining rapid growth while educating customers."

"Financial inclusion is about outcomes. It’s about what intuitive, accessible, and affordable financial tools can do to improve business performance and quality of life."

"I love solving big, systemic, sticky problems. Mm. I think it’s what gets me up in the morning."

"Obviously this work that we do is hard and, and underfunded in many cases."

"we can get people to ideate, we can support them to build better businesses, but they’re still running into this wall of, they have no access to resources."

"I enjoy and get fulfilment from working through problems that are difficult to solve, chop it off bit by bit and at the end of the day bring meaningful change. The Entrepreneurial Spirit is a part of who I am."

"I would say just do it. This is the best time to start a business if you haven’t already. Get your experience now and whether you’re now starting your business or already have, it’s not too late to start using OZÉ. Go for it and make sure you have the right place and support to do it."

"Coding and generally technology has so much untapped potential in Africa. For females, the future is even brighter. Day in and day out there are so many opportunities that come up to promote women in technology."

"Our vision is to shape a world where more African women will be daring enough to lead in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

""We want the women in our community to be at the forefront of technology on the continent and beyond." ** https://deenazaidi.com/spotlight-on-african-women-in-tech-ivy-barley Ivy Barley on the vision of Developers in Vogue for African women in TECH"

"Generally, society has the perception that tech fields are not meant for women."

"Some tech workplaces don’t create the ideal environment for women to thrive."

"I believe that by investing in infrastructure, internet access can be more affordable and available."

"you have to believe in yourself: you’re capable of doing so much!"

"Females make up more than 50 percent of the population of most African countries, and with tech on the rise, it is becoming even more crucial that African women are equipped with tools that help them transform the tech scene in Africa."

"“The future of technology is female and African.”"

"“Whatever your passion is, you definitely need a lot of diligence and determination.”"

"“Generally, society has the perception that tech fields are not meant for women. Though many women are interested in tech, they tend to get discouraged along the line and so drop out. However, I believe tech is gender neutral, and anyone can excel at it.”"

"I represented Ghana well and did my very best but I didn't come out victorious. We can only give thanks to God for whatever happens"

"Competing in the Miss Universe 2013 Pageant in Moscow, Russia was a great opportunity and i did my best to represent Ghana"

"I am just going to do my best. I am going to represent Ghana to the fullest. I need the support of every single Ghanaian; they should support me in every possible way they can"

"Personally, what drives me is my learning spirit at every point of my journey."

"My ultimate heroes are my older sisters, Afia Adoma Sarpong Baafi and Akua Sarpong, who have inspired me in many ways and cheer me on"

"I want to be the best at what I do and be named in the list of top 10 presenters on the African continent"

"I don’t want to stop until I am there, I just need to put up with the grind and keep going with one show at time, one audience at a time…"

"I want to go there and do my best with the team and go as far as we can because everyone would be watching our performance and for me in particular, most Ghanaians will be interested"

"We are not only here as representatives from East Africa, we are here to compete as well to fight for the crest and give our outmost best in the tournament"

"Initially, when I came here, I was not okay, it was a bit challenging, food and language and being in a different setting [which] is normal when you go to a new club outside your country. But as time goes on, I’ve got to understand things here and settled well"

"I want to go there and do my best with the team and go as far as we can because everyone will be watching our performance, me in particular, most Ghanaians will be interested. The focus is to excel and progress in my career ambition and get the Simba family happy, they’re very supportive and I hope not to let them down"

"Evelyn Badu is Evelyn Badu, I am Philomena Abakah, I'm not under any pressure to do what she did, as much as I want to do better which am sure and believe I can, her achievement is not what I look up to, I am more interested in what my team can achieve together, I can’t be what she did if Simba doesn’t go far in the tournament. The focus is the club, not individual accolades. If I get it, glory to God but there’s no pressure or competition to do what she did."

"We are not under any pressure. The drip we came to Morocco with should tell you we are okay. Everyone in the team is confident [that we can succeed]. We are not only here as representatives from East Africa, we are here to compete as well to fight for the crest and give our utmost best in this tournament"

"Personally, I’m not demotivated. We know the level of Women's football in our world. It’s getting the deserved attention now, so every opportunity should be taken. Hopefully, it gets better -- we played qualifiers not knowing what the reward will be"

"There’s a lot of difference between the football operation in Ghana and Tanzania. In Ghana, there is little or no support but the story is different here. Because of how passionate they are, fans here are even able to fund a club when they are embarking on a trip, that alone is motivating enough to fight for the club"

"For me, it’s always been an honor to wear the nation’s badge"

"It’s a dream come true"

"I was a bit resistant, but then I’ve grown to believe that it makes it easier. Because if you marry someone who understands the culture or is familiar with Asanteman and rule, they appreciate you better, they know where you're coming from, and so they respect you better."

"The further you move away from it, the more difficult it is. But then, before you experience that difficulty, you might think, why should you choose who I end up with for me? But it's for your own good, because that way, the person appreciates where you're coming from."

"Consequently, the cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates in Ghana has become one of the highest in the world."

"Cancer causes more deaths in the world than HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis or Malaria."

"Now, when you are planning a business in the country, you sort of can't plan even a few months ahead. It is impossible."

"As early as 9, even before they become sexually active because human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted oncogene. So you tell the child before they become sexually active; that way, you catch them early."

"I’ve been preparing for this, and Ghanaians have been waiting for this moment."

"I would like to win this trophy and see my name in the history books of Ghana, of Africa, and even worldwide. I’m very happy, and I know Ghanaians are happy too."

"I'm extremely excited and proud that we've made it to this stage. Ghana has been waiting a long time for this, and we've mentally prepared ourselves for the challenge."

"We knew it was a do-or-die situation, and we rose to the occasion."

"We are not ending here. We are taking this mentality to the semifinals. I know for sure that we are going to win the trophy."

"I am very, very, very happy. I have been preparing for this. Ghanaians have been preparing for this. We had to kill ourselves."

"I want my name to be in the history books in Ghana, in Africa, and the world. I am very happy, and I know that Ghanaians are happy."

"It’s every child’s dream to achieve what we’ve done today. This moment is bigger than just football — it’s about belief, sacrifice, and pride in the Ghana shirt."

"This victory is for Ghana."

"We’re not done yet. We believe we can go all the way. Ghana deserves this — our fans, our families, and every little girl dreaming of wearing this jersey one day."

"It is my first WAFCON so being able to stand there, sing the national anthem with a proud chest, in that moment I was just thinking about my family, the people close to me, people that I care about and all of them watching me."

"I need to be locked in and give everything. I am grateful that it worked out today, so I am looking forward to the next game."

"Watching from the stands in the opener, I knew that if I am going to get a chance to come in, I need to do more, work hard and give my team the balance."

"I am super excited that I finally have played at the WAFCON. This is a dream come true."

"I am kind of sad of course because this is not the result that we wanted but I am grateful for the platform."

"Football has shaped me to find myself, my identity as a woman and as a footballer. It has taught me about life and how to embrace opportunities. It gave me an opportunity to go to college and because of that, I want to be an inspiration to young girls in Ghana. I want them to dream that it is possible to make it, to play with the best in the world."

"Football has provided me with a platform to meet important people and play with and against the best of the best. These are opportunities that I do not take for granted."

"Playing in the USA gave me the mentality to work harder than everybody else, to always be ready."

"So, I have always been working hard and waiting for an opportunity, and it has finally come."

"I give back to the community, to the young ones especially those that never had an opportunity to have mentorship. We give them boots and this alone can change their lives. We have so many partners that come on board to donate and this has been important to us."

"I love DC [Washington DC] because the people are very respectful, a predominantly Black community gives a feeling of home. You will see so many Ghanaians, Ugandans, Ethiopians basically, you will see people who are the same. People who will take you as a sister and make sure that you do not feel out of place."

"Being a Nuzest Influencer means a lot to me, and not only inspire young athletes to work harder but also help them take care of their body and stay healthy as well. Where I came from, I was never introduced to nutritions as much as a player, but when I had the opportunity to further my career here, I wanted to learn all that I didn't have in my country so I can help young athletes to understand how proteins and nutrition are important for players."

"I make sure I have enough protein, carbs, and healthy fat in all my nutrition. And constantly reminding myself of what to put in my body because the work we do requires us to be in good shape all the time."

"I would say trust the process, be able to learn about the product and what works for you. And also give yourself the chance to start something new."

"This is a dream come true for me. Representing Ghana at this level is an honour, and I’m giving everything for my team."

"We’ll fight like it’s our last game."

"I never felt that there were people who were going to fight for me."

"Having them gives me a sense of freedom, knowing that they are going to tell people to fight for what I have been craving for, and asking for. Things that I have not been able to say out loud as an individual player."

"Growing up as a young girl, it seemed impossible to do things that men do."

"Soccer is a huge sport and all the boys and girls play that. But in our culture it seems like it is only for men. My family and friends, everybody would be like You have to be in the kitchen."

"I never felt that’s what I was born to do. I could do more than that, so that is something that I always wanted to change."

"Soccer is not equal for men and women."

"Every single player, be it a man or a woman, does the same job. We put in the same amount of time, the same amount of work. They give everything they got on the field, and they inspire on and off the field. It’s clear that they have to be paid or treated in the same way."

"But in this world right now, it’s different. Men get everything they want, women get less. If we ask for more, it looks as if we ask for too much."

"It will be fair if women are paid the same, treated the same, respected the same and given the same platform."

"If you put soccer on TV, whether it is a men’s or women’s game, everybody is going to watch it. Young boys, young girls, they are going to watch it. So it has to be equal."

"I remember the days when they said We cannot break that cycle. I now feel like we can break that cycle. Playing soccer isn’t only for men, it is for all young players, boys and girls. I’m glad that things are now changing."

"When I was young, there were good players in Africa, but we didn’t see them on TV."

"I had no player to look up to, until I saw the 2011 Women’s World Cup. I saw Alex Morgan, who became my role model and inspiration, not just on the field, but also outside the field: believe in yourself and your ability even if other people don’t believe in that."

"Visibility matters because for me being able to share my story is one of the ways that we can solve problems."

"I want my story to make that change and make people see that if they put the time into it, we will be able to change players’ lives and have them to face life in different ways then I went through."

"I felt like this is where I belong. This is where I wanna be for so long and watching them play the way they played, witnessing that, I was like no, this is where I wanna be."

"Every day I wake up and it feels like I’m still dreaming."

"No matter how [much] people would say ‘you’re a good player, you’re a great player,’ you always wanted that validation for yourself, feeling like I actually did it."

"Where I grew up, when you’re a kid, everybody, especially the older people when they see you play, they call on you based on the player that they think best fits your style. When I was like, eight or nine years old, Kaka was my role model. I always loved watching him play for AC Milan, and Brazil. So, one day I was playing with the boys and I needed a name to play. There was this old man who was sitting right next to the field and he was like, ‘Oh, you’re like Kaka from Brazil.’ Pretty much from then on I was Jen Kaka."

"I knew at the age of thirteen that I wanted to be a professional player. Now growing up in my country, soccer is there but it’s not as organized as a club or, like they would do here (in the US). I don’t know, it’s fun, but also it’s not as competitive as playing club."

"There are still changes that need to be made to help women’s soccer in Ghana. And I hope one day I can help to make that change, help push it to be more professional, you know, it’s difficult to be seen (by scouts and agents) which makes it hard for them (women’s players) to get out."

"It was hard for me to make friends, and my English wasn’t that good."

"It was the craziest feeling I’ve ever felt. I wanted to be on the field and I had these little tears, you know, looking at the crowd, the way game was played. And I said, this is where I belong. That’s the words that came out of my mouth. This is where I belong."

"Sometimes I keep reminding myself like, How did this happen? How did this happen? You know, but I feel like it’s hard work and if you believe in it, and you have the right people around you to push you to work harder. For me, people see where I am now. But it’s not easy, this journey."

"“Reach out to teams like I did. Send a bunch of emails to coaches. It’s all about getting the chance, because for me, I don’t have an agent, and if I didn’t go to the (Sky Blue FC) tryout, I wouldn’t have ever had the chance."

"Other than that, model your training so your intensity and the way you think will be the same as the professional game. It’s a lot of sacrifice. There’s so many things you miss out on because you need to stay focused. But it’s going to pay off for sure."

"I've played football since I was very young, around four years old, when I saw the boys playing, and one of the dads of the other kids saw my mum and was like: 'Bring her down to the football that the boys do'."

"I am so proud to be Ghanaian."

"My first thought was … to make Ghana be spoken about in a very, very good light in women’s football."

"I hope I can add a lot more … not just goals, but assists, leadership and encouragement."

"My mum has always kept me with my roots, even though she's English. She's always made the African peanut butter soup and the fufu, and eating kenkey and Gari."

"I think we deserve the respect from African football."

"I want to give this continent so much respect, but I also want to gain it. The only way you gain it is by performing, by showing who we are."

"It feels like part of my roots. It feels like a big sense of home away from home. It's like my two homes colliding. Obviously am partly from England and I have half Ghanaian as well, so it's brought me closer to the motherland as I always say, my roots, the people. It feels amazing because everyone's really nice. Yeah, the girls are really welcoming as well, so it's really good."

"From the first day I was a little bit shy. I'm a shy person, but then straight away, I've never been in an environment before where everyone is genuine. Everybody's really grateful and shows positivity and they made me feel like I've been a part of it for a long time."

"Every time I touch the pitch, every time I play football, it's passion because I am filled with passion. I think everyone that sees me play, whether we're chasing the game or we're winning a game, I always have the passion and try and feed that energy from me to other people."

"So, when I'm wearing the Ghana jersey, I'll be bringing that exact same passion, the same desire and the same focus as well to win the games and hopefully do something special with this national team as well."

"It’s up to us as players to raise the standard."

"The support may not be there at the level we want, but when we show quality, passion, and competitiveness on the field, more people will take notice."

"We can’t wait for people to take us seriously — we have to make them see the value."

"We respect our opponents, but we also know what we bring to the table."

"It’s about staying disciplined and playing with heart. We owe it to our fans, our country, and ourselves to fight for every point."

"The future is bright."

"I’m really grateful to win this award two times in a row and to be the top scorer. This only makes me want to do more."

"I thank god for this opportunity to play in the CAF Women’s Champions League. It was a dream that came true and now I just want to achieve more."

"There's no pressure on me at all. Football is just a normal game, with movement and passing."

"I'm very much relaxed and looking forward to the match. Although, it is a crucial match there is no pressure whatsoever on me. I will do my best to help take my team very far in the competition."

"I'm not just the only player in the team, so I have to team up with other members of the squad to push the country very far in the competition."

"As a team, we are determined to give our best to win the match."

"We will make sure we raise high the image of Ghana."

"I don't have specifications, just have money. I don't want those old men who are rich; I want young rich guys. I want the money the young guys have. The boys have money. They ride the big cars in town like Benz and the others."

"We have mentally equipped ourselves for this game after undertaking the essential training, and we are set to perform on Friday."

"First and foremost, I want to extend my gratitude to the coach for the chance he has provided us, the younger players. We have gained a lot from the senior team members, and we continue to learn and develop."

"We want to do the best we can to win it."

"I am very happy, it is not just about my performance but the total contribution from the entire team. They fought for the badge and made Ghana proud. I am really excited."

"When I was coming on, I told myself even if it is for only two minutes I will make use of it and that is what I did when I was coming on."

"I can’t wait to play on a team that has been so successful over recent seasons and alongside incredible players I’ve admired from afar. I’m ready to work hard and embrace the challenge ahead. See you all soon!"

"I’m ready for this challenge."

"The team’s success and the players here are incredible, and I’m excited to contribute and learn from them."

"We are still learning and growing as well. From the Under 17 youth level to the Black Queens, I think there is a lot of difference between and I think the senior players especially Portia, Alice Kusi, Jennifer Cudjoe, Grace Asantewaa they are helping us a lot. They have been with us on and off the field so we are really grateful and happy with that."

"Training has been really serious, it's been very detailed, and we can't wait to start the game because we know how important this game is for us and I believe with the preparation that we would go far."

"Obviously, the fans would play a big impact in our performance so we pary that they have hope in us to pray for us and yeah, we will do our best to deliver."

"I have a huge desire to come back and play and to become even better than I was when I left. I’ve come back to stay, and I feel a great sense of calm and patience."

"It’s been a hectic year and a half, but I’ve learned an incredible amount about myself, become more mature, and gained a patience I perhaps didn’t have before."

"That’s why I also associate it with family and togetherness, and that’s what I need right now."

"I'm looking forward to doing my best every day on the field to serve the country."

"Not my finest tournament, but still a memorable one!"

"I’m grateful we managed to secure the bronze medal in my AWCON debut. I apologize to my fans for not quite living up to expectations I know I’m capable of more, and I promise to bounce back stronger."

"To those who supported me through the ups and downs, thank you for your encouragement and prayers. Your words kept me going, and I’m honored to have such a loyal fanbase."

"I’ll be back, and next time, I’ll make sure to bring the goals!"

"What started as a dream will now become a reality and congratulations to all of us."

"In the previous squads, I was one of the youngest and had the chance to learn a lot from the experienced players. Now, I’m one of the oldest and the longest-serving, so I’ve taken on the responsibility of mentoring the younger ones, which I really enjoy."

"Ghana is blessed with a lot of female talent, and that remains consistent."

"WAFCON is the biggest women’s football competition in Africa. It’s always a great opportunity to play on such a huge stage, and I’m super excited to represent Ghana again."

"It’s always a great feeling to represent your country."

"Out of so many female footballers, to be chosen to play at such a big tournament is a huge honour. Women’s football is loved by many, and we know a lot of people will be watching us."

"I believe in my teammates and the work we’ve done in training. Our preparation, our coaches and our belief will push us forward."

"It’s very important to lead by example through my work. I always make myself available to the younger ones in case they need support. We live together like a family, and sometimes it’s hard to even tell who’s new or old."

"Every team at the AFCON has earned their place, so each game will be tough. But we have belief in ourselves and what we bring to the competition."

"I always want to give my best for the national team because I love Ghana and our fans are amazing. They deserve our very best."

"Whatever it takes to keep myself in top shape, I’m ready to do it."

"It’s very important. When I check my social media, I see people who post about me and send encouraging messages. We definitely inspire many, especially the young ones who dream of playing for Ghana one day."

"My message is simple: keep supporting us, keep praying for us. We promise to give our best and bring the trophy home. Thank you."

"Sometimes you will lose, sometimes too you will win but I think we can build on the positives from now."

"As a footballer you need to be tough in everything so I will say I am thankful to God for how far He has brought me, I am so excited to be back."

"We don’t really care about their World ranking as I know we can match them. We are going to play as a team and I know at the end of the day we are going to achieve what we deserve."

"They are really doing a good job for us because at first people don’t even cheer female footballers but now they are all supporting us. We are always grateful, we hope they will continue to support and we will also do our best for them."

"The quality of the Black Queens team is very high, from the goalkeeping department to the attackers. All the players have geniune talents."

"When it comes to motivating myself, it is not about money but I encourage myself to be the best at what I do and when fans are happy, it's a great feeling for me. This award is a massive honour and a motivation to reach higher heights."

"Yes for sure, I am hoping for that, that's my aim, I listen to coaches and personally I feel anything you do you have to set a target and that is my target and am working towards that."

"We won the bronze medal for ourselves and the nation. I am happy we didn't go home empty handed... To be able to go home with a medal is great. I am really excited."

"I thank the nation for their support. I know during the group stage it was really hard for us... We were not just here to participate but at least able to make an impact. That is the dream and I am really excited for that."

"Where I am and where I want to be is a little bit far... I always stay positive. If it happens I could make it one day. That is the dream and I will forever be grateful."

"This is amazing. I can remember way back when we couldn't make it, but last season we went to the WAFCON, we made an impact and lucky for us, here we are today."

"We have our last game to play at WAFCON. The excuses are too many. It’s time we put everything aside and play for the badge."

"I’m not saying we haven’t tried, but football is about results."

"I know I am playing in the Saudi League. There is so much difference from the leagues I played before but they are trying to progress in women's football."

"I'm happy we didn't go home empty-handed. We couldn't reach the final, but we're going home with something."

"Playing the host nation is exciting, not pressure."

"It’s just been really exciting to play for the national team — It’s always been a dream, but I never thought I’d actually be here. It didn’t become real to me until I was there, and it was one of the best experiences of my life."

"You’ve got to keep pushing yourself. When you’re tired? You have to do more. Do you want to stop a guy? Do one more."

"You have to make sure you’re fit, that your weaknesses improve … you have to have confidence in yourself. There is always something to work on, so you should never not be doing something."

"I think if we play to our best abilities, I think we could really win the whole thing."

"It’s been my dream to be a professional soccer player."

"I’ve been learning the path to success is not just one straight line. There are a lot of ups and downs, and most people don’t see the downs."

"But you just have to remember when you’re down, you’ve just got to keep working hard because if it was easy, everyone could do it."

"I think that if we all work together and follow the coach's instructions, we can achieve great things. My hope is to win the Women's African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and then qualify for the World Cup."

"I'm from Accra, but I was born in Liberia. My father is Ghanaian, and my brothers live in Ghana. I've been to Ghana only once, but it was great seeing my family and having that experience. I really enjoyed it."

"We’ve worked so hard, and now we’re just one step away from the final. That means everything."

"Some of the younger players bring so much energy to the team. It lifts us."

"We the older players try to guide them and keep the team strong. It was always my dream to play in these kinds of games. But due to some reasons, I haven’t had the chance to be on the field as much as I wanted. Still, I’m supporting the team in every way I can."

"We trust our coach. He’s given us a clear game plan, and all we have to do is to follow it and give everything we’ve got."

"We know what this game means. We are hopeful. We’ve prepared well."

"Tomorrow, we’ll give it our all."

"Getting to this stage of the tournament is a big deal, not just for us as players but for the entire country."

"I’ve been through a lot going to school in a foreign country. Had to do jobs on the side to pay for my expenses. In the end it was really worth it."

"I started getting interest in soccer since I was little. I would say I was about 4. I developed interest by following my two brothers around. They played street soccer all the time and I would follow them out and be a ball girl. But it all changed, one day they were one play short and they put me in to make up the number. Though all I did was run around, it was fun. It didn’t stop there. They continued whenever they were a player short. I played street soccer until middle school."

"I didn’t necessarily choose soccer. I just accidentally started playing and with time I was actually good at it. So I kept going."

"Never been interested in any other sports. My parents were really supportive. My parents are very educated so they know the value of combining education with sports. My dad bought all the necessary things I needed to play."

"Ummm I think you need to be willing to learn, be positive, most of of all be persistent and don’t give up easily, you have to be coachable and not complacent, be humble and listen to good advice from your coaches and experienced players. I think that’s it."

"Yes, the challenges I faced was being called names in my community. Names like, manwoman, boygirl and even a prostitute. And there are a lot of misconceptions about female athletes. That you won’t be able to give birth and finding a husband would be difficult. But am glad that people’s perception is changing everyday about women in sport’s."

"I got pregnant in but my coach and grandmother decided I had to abort it because we were a month and a week away from going to the Black Queens camp."

"My coach went to see my grandparents. I was young by then so it was recently that an elderly man I know told me the place I reside was where my abortion was done."

"I was having my period regularly, there were no signs of me being pregnant."

"The coach said he wants to use the princesses and the maidens to represent the team which is not a bad idea but they lack experience to get the job done. Assuming Kwarasey is ignored in the stars, people will complain but when it happens in the female side, no one is talking about it so I wish Ghanaians give the same attention to the queens ."

"During our time, we could not make money from football and even the way we were paid left us in debt before we even receive our bonuses."

"They say when the government or the sports ministry owes you, they will pay you, but as to when you never know. So I usually will borrow money to cater for myself and my ailing grandmother. Before the money comes, you are already in huge debt."

"This time around we are all looking forward to a host and win situation."

"You know in the past we lost in the finals three times but this time around we have the advantage to redeem our image so we must do everything possible to win."

"We have a task ahead of us and we can go to the Championship to deliver whatever we can. I think we have the qualities and the players that can face all this countries – opponents."

"We are not going to underrate any country. We would play match after match and improve match after match."

"In our last tournament, we didn’t perform well so this is our chance to lift the trophy for the first time. Most players now have the exposure so I think with this preparation, we can lift the trophy."

"We still believe we can qualify so we are going there to fight and get the win."

"We are not out of it, just like they scored here we can also go there and score without conceding."

"It is not as if we are throwing sour grapes, just because we have lost. Rather, this is the fact and it is up to the organisers to do something about this. It is not good for African women’s football."

"We are hosting the tournament and our prime target is to win the title as hosts and qualify for the World Cup which will be staged in France next year."

"I have been talking to my colleagues, trying to motivate them that we can make a name for ourselves and the country."

"This year's tournament is not going to be easy, everything that will be participarting will be coming for the ultimate."

"We as host nation have a big task to win the sompetition as well but is not going to come easy."

"I have believed and very confident we can make mother Ghana proud when the competition begins."

"Naturally, we want to win the tournament because it would feel very good [to do do] at home, but we can only focus on it one game at a time."

"We have come close many times so there we are not far off at all."

"It’s sometimes sad and disheartening how the people of Ghana especially the media have just neglected us and say nothing about our teams."

"Whenever I’m listening to Radio and watching TV, I hear how they(the media) promote and fight for the Black Stars and other Men’s national teams at the expense of we the Female teams which shouldn’t be the case."

"The Black Queens were the first team to represent the country at the world cup level but the kind of treatment and promotion we get from Ghanaians especially the media is on the low side."

"We want to qualify for the semi-finals without any doubt and that will mean winning. Besides, we want to keep our unbeated record so far."

"Why can't female players and coaches be celebrated as well?"

"We are all serving the same Ghana as the male players and coaches."

"When I have the ball, she knows what I'll do next."

"I’ve been appointed by the President as the Chief Justice of Ghana and I believe my mandate is to set free the oppressed from all kinds of injustices they encounter."

"The law is the law, no matter the noises made and no matter what others say or feel. No one is above the law — not the President, not even the Chief Justice."

"I am confident that in my journey as a lawyer, as a judge and now as Chief Justice, there is no one person in this country who can look at me in the eye and accuse me of taking a bribe to decide a case."

"There cannot be prosperity without peace and there cannot be peace unless people are assured that their rights will be upheld and they will not be robbed of their entitlement."