The Angaza Awards: Women to Watch in Banking, Finance and Investment program has announced the list of Top 10 women who are steering and shaping Africa’s financial services sector. Ghana’s Josephine Anan-Ankomah ranked in first place.
She currently serves as Ecobank Group’s Regional Executive for Central, Eastern and Southern Africa as well as their Managing Director of Kenya. Previous Ghanaian winners include Audrey Abakah, Director of SME, Agency banking and partnerships at Absa Bank Ghana, Sheila Wristberg, Chief Executive Officer of iRisk Management, and Efeh Amoah, Head of Transaction Banking at Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania. With 32 years of experience at Ecobank, Anan-Ankomah oversees operations across 18 countries, managing 26 percent of the bank’s balance sheet.
Under her leadership, the Commercial Banking Business achieved remarkable growth, witnessing over 30 percent revenue growth, a 60 percent increase in total deposits, and a doubling of customer numbers. She led the team that created and launched Ecobank’s gender financing initiative, Ellevate by Ecobank, in November 2020.
Ellevate has cumulatively impacted over 70,000 women-owned businesses. The Angaza Awards list was compiled following a four-month entry period which attracted dozens of professionals from 11 countries across the Continent. Launched in 2020, Angaza Awards has helped raise international awareness of the seasoned African women who are shaping and influencing the financial services sector. The Awardees will be celebrated during the Angaza Forum which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya on October 16 and 17. “Through the Angaza Awards, we uncover the hidden gems of Africa’s financial landscape — women whose impact transcends boardrooms and industries to create shared value,” said Nuru Mugambi, Angaza Forum Chairperson.
“Their stories inspire us, reminding us that financial inclusion and empowerment is not just a sustainable finance goal but a catalyst for transformative change. As we amplify their voices, we pave the way for a future where women rise to the C-suite and beyond by driving impactful initiatives that reshape the fabric of our economies,” she said. The Angaza Awards Judges Panel is constituted by Mutumboi Mundia, Chief Executive Officer of Prospero, an SME-focused impact investment organization in Zambia; Catherine Musakali, Cofounder of Women on Boards Network Kenya; Hedwige Nuyens, Managing Director, International Banking Federation; Yawa Hansen-Quao, Founder, Leading Ladies’ Network (Ghana); Joanita Lunkuse-Jaggwe, a risk management specialist with UNDP; Luke Ombara, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Capital Markets Authority of Kenya; Esohe Denise Odaro, Head of ESG and Sustainability, PAI Partners (UK); Maxwell Pirikisi, Immediate Past President – South Africa-Nigeria Business Chamber (SA-NBC) and Director SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI); and Jo-Ann Pöhl, Senior Advisor at Kearney (South Africa). About Angaza Awards More than 30 women leaders from 16 countries have been honored since the inception of the Angaza Awards. The Nairobi-based nonprofit initiative receives backing from volunteers and sponsors who share a common belief in the transformative power of African women in the financial sector. Notably, applicants are not required to pay any fees for consideration and recognition. For more information visit www.AngazaAwards.com.
AFRICA’S TOP 10 WOMEN TO WATCH IN BANKING, FINANCE AND INVESTMENT TO BE CELEBRATED DURING ANGAZA FORUM IN NAIROBI, KENYA
Women to Watch in Banking, Finance and Investment has announced the list of Top 10 women who are shaping Africa’s financial services sector. The list was compiled following a four-month entry period which attracted dozens of professionals from 11 countries across the Continent. The Top 10 will be celebrated during the Angaza Forum which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya on October 16 and 17.
Financial Sector Innovation Professionals in Banking, Capital Markets, Insurance, Fintech, Investment Banking and Fund Management, Microfinance, and Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) and Public Sector were invited to submit their applications. Entries were received from Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Angaza Awards criteria included an assessment to evaluate entrants based on their measurable achievements within their current institution as well as notable professional accomplishments at the industry level.
The 2024 Top 10 Women to Watch are as follows. The list indicates the employer and title as at January 30, 2024. The listed countries are based on nationality.
Josephine Anan-Ankomah – Ecobank Group Regional Executive – Central, Eastern & Southern Africa, Ghana
Reena Moonoosamy – National Insurance Co., Ltd. Group Chief Services Officer, Mauritius
* Clementine Chinyuku – Emeritus Reinsurance Head of Reassurance, Zimbabwe
* Nonceba Patsika – Zibuko Capital (Microfinance) Managing Director, Zimbabwe
* Manisha Dookhony – Chairperson and Director of Mindex Ltd; and Chairperson of African Legal Support Facility (African Development Bank), Mauritius
* Mary Mulili – UBA Kenya Designate Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kenya
* Susan Sawe – Citibank N.A. Director, Global Network Banking (East Africa), Kenya
* Patience Muvea – Chief Actuary Liberty Life Insurance, Kenya
* Chantal Kagame – Mobile Money Rwanda, Ltd. Chief Executive Officer, Rwanda
* Mizinga Melu – Absa Bank Zambia Managing Director, Zambia
PROFILES
Josephine Anan-Ankomah
Regional Executive – Central, Eastern & Southern Africa Ecobank Group
Ghanaian national Josephine Anan-Ankomah is the Regional Executive for Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa (CESA) and Managing Director of Ecobank Kenya. With 32 years of experience at Ecobank, she oversees operations across 18 countries, managing 26 percent of the bank’s US$26.6 billion balance sheet. Under her leadership, the Commercial Banking Business achieved remarkable growth, witnessing over 30 percent revenue growth, a 60 percent increase in total deposits to US$5.4 billion, and a doubling of customer numbers. Josephine’s strategic oversight as the Regional Executive has been instrumental in driving financial performance, with the region emerging as the second-largest revenue contributor to the Group.
She led the team that created and launched Ecobank’s gender financing initiative, Ellevate by Ecobank, in November 2020. Ellevate has cumulatively impacted over 70,000 women-owned businesses. Through collaborations with organizations like AUDA-NEPAD, Google My Business, and LinkedIn, she has delivered capacity-building programs to thousands of SMEs across Africa, fostering economic growth and development. Her collaborative efforts have also extended to promoting financial inclusion among young people through initiatives like the Fingo App, which onboarded over 110,000 users.
Josephine’s transformative initiatives have received global recognition, including the Outstanding Crisis Finance Innovations at the 2021 Global Finance – Innovators awards, The Impact Award at the 2021 Financial Alliance for Women award, the Best New Product Launch of the Year at the 2021 Middle East & Africa Retail Banking Innovation Awards, and Africa’s Best Bank for SMEs by Euromoney. Furthermore, her foundation, SheBlossoms, provides critical support to needy Junior High School students in Ghana, offering financial assistance, mentorship, and career guidance to promote education and empower young women.
