Mrs. Georgette Barnes Sakyi-Addo, a Mining Services Entrepreneur, has been elected President of the Africa Women in Mining Association (AWIMA) for a two-year term.
She was elected at the General Assembly Meeting of AWIMA, which took place under the auspices of the African Forum on Mining in Accra.
The week-long forum was organized by the African Union.
AWIMA is a continent-wide organization, which advocates for increased representation for women in the mining sector in Africa.
Mrs. Sakyi-Addo, also the President of Women in Mining (WIM) Ghana, will serve with an Executive Committee comprising representatives from North, East, Central, West and Southern Africa to execute AWIMA’s Pan-African mandate.
She is the Founder and CEO of Georgette Barnes Ltd, a wholly Ghanaian-owned mining and exploration services company. She established the WIM Ghana in 2015 as an advocacy body for all women working in the mining sector.
WIM offers training programs for its members, mentorship for female students in secondary and tertiary institutions, enables networking and undertakes research projects. It is funded by voluntary contributions and run by volunteers.
Mrs. Sakyi-Addo, in her acceptance speech, reiterated her commitment to achieving the WIM’s mandate, saying; “I look forward to working with sister WIM organizations throughout Africa to improve opportunities in mining for women.”
“We will work together so we can travel far,” referencing the African proverb; “If you want to travel fast, go alone; but if you want to travel far, go together.”
In 2016, Mrs. Sakyi-Addo was selected among 100 Global Inspirational Women in Mining by WIM UK. In 2018, she was awarded the Female Entrepreneur of the Year by Invest in Africa (IIA), a non-profit organization, which champions African-owned SMEs across the Continent.
She is also President of Accra Mining Network that brings together professionals in the mining sector to “meet, learn and earn.”
Mrs. Sakyi-Addo is bilingual and has worked in the mining industry for 24 years, with experience throughout West Africa.
She has co-authored four publications in artisanal and small-scale mining. She holds a Post-graduate Certificate in Mining Law & Policy from the University of Ghana, a Certificate in Principles of Mining Engineering and Surface Mining Operations from the University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa.
She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in French and Linguistics, and a Post- Graduate Diploma in Communications, University of Ghana.
