Mildred Agbana, a premium organic, vegan skincare brand builder in Ghana

May 2, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Startup Story

The beauty and wellbeing benefits of shea butter are well known, but now for those looking for a premium brand and product range which is organic, vegan, and suitable for the most sensitive skins, help is at hand from Kinapure1`. In Ghana, Kina Africa, founded by entrepreneur and health specialist, Mildred Mawusi Agbana (Millie), and trading under the brand name Kinapure, is creating a range of products that are handcrafted, organic, cruelty-free, 100% vegan, hypoallergenic and non-GMO.

Ethel Cofie, a leading woman entrepreneur influencing IT in Africa

April 4, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Ethel Cofie, Founder & CEO, EDEL Technology Consulting (Ghana)

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

EDEL Technology Consulting, combining strategy and technology to bring business success to clients.

Named one of the Top 5 Women influencing IT in Africa, Ethel Cofie is CEO and Founder of EDEL Technology Consulting, an IT Consulting Company in West Africa and Europe which was recently named IT Consulting Firm of the year by the Telecoms and IT Industry. Ethel is also the Founder of Women in Tech Africa, the continent’s largest women in tech group with members in over 30 African countries and in the diaspora and growing, and the 2018 UN Equals in Tech Award Winner, Leadership Category. She created Women in Tech Week, a global event that impacts over 10,000 women globally. Ethel currently sits on the Advisory Board for Ghana’s Vice President, helping to design a Digital Strategy for Ghana. She also sits on the Tech Advisory board for the Graca Machel Trust. She has been featured on BBC/CNN/FT/Wired UK giving her thoughts on the topics of doing business on Africa, technology in Africa, Africa technology ecosystems and women leadership in business in Africa.

Michelle Hammond, a woman entrepreneur fusing her Ghanaian culture with modern accessory design

January 24, 2021 Melanie Hawken

Michelle Hammond, founder of Ruahh (Ghana/USA)

Startup Story

Often the inspiration to launch a creative brand is drawn from an entrepreneur’s heritage and cultural influences. In the case of Michelle Hammond and her accessories brand, Ruahh, her Ghanaian heritage has provided a rich source of inspiration and symbolism that she is rightly proud of. Today, Michelle’s customers can experience that sense of belonging she feels through her vibrant accessories.

LIONESS COLAB / AMWA Designs X Allbirds team design a special edition of the Dasher trainer

August 15, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness CoLAB

An exciting CoLab has just been announced between the talented textile designer, Chrissa Amuah, founder of AMWA Designs, and Allbirds, the highly innovative and sustainable global footwear brand, well known for its trainers. Chrissa collaborated with the Allbirds team to design a special edition of the Dasher trainer - and the results were incredible.

Kimberley and Priscilla Addison, pioneers of artisanal bean-to-bar chocolate manufacturing

July 5, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Kimberley and Priscilla Addison, founders of ’57 Chocolate (Ghana)

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Meet the founders of ’57 Chocolate, Ghana’s luxury chocolate brand

Africa needs women entrepreneurs who really understand the power of the entrepreneurial value chain in their countries, and in Ghana a great example can be found in Kimberley and Priscilla Addison, founders of ’57 Chocolate. The company’s philosophy is based on a bean-to-bar approach to manufacture and distribution, adding value to everyone along the value chain, from cocoa bean grower to consumer. ‘57 Chocolate is a world-class brand that believes in not merely trading the country’s natural resources in their “natural” state, but instead using creativity to transform these resources by developing made in Ghana products of premium value. Lionesses of Africa spoke to these pioneering sisters this month to find out more.

Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, a Ghanaian entrepreneur building a luxury, global handbag brand

April 19, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Lioness Weekender Cover Story

Discerning buyers in some of the most cosmopolitan fashion capitals of the world are already familiar with the brand, A A K S, and its talented creative founder, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi. She regular exhibits at some of the most prestigious fashion and accessory showcase events around the world, always capturing the attention of the media, as well as enthusiastic followers and buyers.

Ruth Wewura Guribie, a Ghanaian cosmetics brand builder celebrating the natural power of shea butter

April 12, 2020 Melanie Hawken

Ruth Wewura Guribie, founder of Sava Shea Company Limited (Ghana)

Startup Story

For decades, women across the African continent have known how good shea butter is for the skin. Now, Ruth Wewura Guribie, the founder of Sava Shea Company Limited in Ghana, is creating a natural skincare brand that celebrates this much-loved local ingredient.

LIONESS COLAB: AAKS x United Arrows & Global Goods Partners & Bamford

June 23, 2019 Melanie Hawken

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This summer, the fabulous luxury handmade accessory brand from Ghana, AAKS, founded by entrepreneur Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, is collaborating with not one but three partners to launch an exciting new range of bags for the season.

Jacqueline Shaw, an entrepreneur from Ghana on a mission to showcase African fashion and textiles to the world

June 2, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Jacqueline Shaw, founder of Africa Fashion Guide

There are people in the world who are driven to make a difference and an impact in their chosen business sector, and entrepreneur Jacqueline Shaw is one of those who is making a big difference in Africa’s fashion and textile industry. With her Africa Fashion Guide, she is bringing the continent’s talented fashion and textile designers to the attention of global markets and buyers.

Keren Pybus, an entrepreneur with a vision to demonstrate that ethical manufacturing can be done at scale in Africa

February 16, 2019 Melanie Hawken

Ethical Apparel Africa is a company co-founded by Keren Pybus based in Ghana and Benin, working with international brands who are interested in growing a manufacturing base in Africa with a positive social and environmental impact.

LIONESS LAUNCH: AAKS showcases its new Spring/Summer19 collection at Maison et Objet in Paris

January 27, 2019 Melanie Hawken

The month of January saw award-winning Ghanaian accessory brand AAKS, founded by Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, launching the company’s exciting new Spring/Summer19 Collection at the prestigious annual MaisonetObject show in Paris. Akosua also took the opportunity to showcase the company’s new impact-driven home decor line of products, including some cutting edge lighting designs, created in collaboration with UNHCR.

Kimberly & Priscilla Addison, two sisters pioneering bean to bar chocolate production in Ghana

July 9, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Kimberly and Priscilla Addison, co-founders of '57 Chocolate (Ghana) — **Kimberly and Priscilla Addison**, co-founders of '57 Chocolate (Ghana)

On a mission to show the world that quality chocolate can be produced in Ghana where some of the finest cacao beans grow, sisters Kimberly and Priscilla Addison created ’57 Chocolate. This growing business and brand is inspiring not only a generation of aspirant future chocolatiers in the country, but also the tastebuds of the world’s chocolate lovers.

Selassie Atadika, a Ghanaian artisan chocolatier creating a luxury truffle range celebrating Africa’s unique flavours and stories

July 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Selassie Atadika, founder of Midunu Chocolates (Ghana) — **Selassie Atadika**, founder of Midunu Chocolates (Ghana)

Who doesn’t like truffles? Those wonderful, lovingly handcrafted chocolates that melt on the tongue with evocatively scented centres that tease the tastebuds. One company taking the truffle to whole new levels is entrepreneur and chocolatier, Selassie Atadika, founder of Midunu Chocolates in Ghana.

LIONESS CoLAB: AAKS X UNHCR

July 5, 2018 Melanie Hawken

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AAKS in Ghana and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees joined forces for a home décor project titled ‘Weaving for Change’. The collaboration to produce a range of beautifully handcrafted lamps and light fittings reflects the preservation of a time honoured Malian weaving technique of the Tuareg community from Northern Mali, who are living as refugees in Burkina Faso. Behind every handcrafted lamp you will find a cultural identity of the Tuareg.

Joelle Eyeson, an entrepreneur creating affordable eco housing solutions using rammed earth construction in Ghana

May 6, 2018 Melanie Hawken

Joelle Eyeson, co-founder of Hive Earth (Ghana) — **Joelle Eyeson**, co-founder of Hive Earth (Ghana)

Creating affordable housing solutions in Africa is a key challenge for many countries, and particularly homes that are eco-friendly. But Joelle Eyeson, co-founder of Hive Earth, is bringing a new and innovative solution to Ghana, and one that is replicable across the continent.

Ghana’s leading women entrepreneurs showcase their businesses to Germany’s influential business leaders

December 17, 2017 Melanie Hawken

*Ethel Cofie, Akosua Afriyie-Kumi, Sabine Dall'Omo, Melanie Hawken, Emi-Beth Aku Quantson, Kimberley and Priscilla Addison, Minister Brigitte Zypries*

The 15th of December marked the final stop on the year-long Lionesses of Africa tour around the African continent, showcasing the best and most inspirational women entrepreneurs to the rest of the world. Accra was the final city of the tour, and what an occasion it was. Our hosts were the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy in Germany, together with a high level business delegation of leading ceos and decision-makers from some of the most influential companies and organisations in that country.

Emma Maame Efua Tandoh, a Ghanaian entrepreneur finding new creative ways to celebrate African textiles

September 24, 2017 Melanie Hawken

Emma Maame Efua Tandoh, founder of Love Ankara (Ghana) — **Emma Maame Efua Tandoh**, founder of Love Ankara (Ghana)

African print has been finding its way into mainstream fashion for a long time, but it is always good to see a brand emerging from the continent that innovatively celebrates its diversity. Love Ankara is a fabulous retail, footwear and accessory brand, proudly made in Ghana but loved by the continent.

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