GHANAGAS: NOT JUST A PARTY - A Blueprint for Possibility

I heard a faint voice from behind.
“Ms Doris.... Ms Doris where have you been?” before I could even think of a response the words came tumbling out excited, breathless, and unstoppable at the top of her voice she spoke out loud.

“I attended a party, you were right when you said there would be plenty food, music and dance. I even wanted to eat and take some home”. She giggled when she realized my gaze did not approve of the carrying home adventure...she continued “My sister said if we learn hard, we would have another party so, I won’t absent myself from school again, and we saw the CEO of Ghana gas. She came to the party and she danced with us… I want to be like her, like a CEO”.

Certainly, she can “if they can see it they can be it “(Marian Wright Edelman).

And just like she appeared... she ended her ranting abruptly and run off leaving me to decipher.
From questioning my where about, to telling me how she had fun with Ms Judith Ajobah Blay and her decision to be like her - the CEO of Ghana gas.

To be honest, at that particular instance, judging her excitement, I wished that during my formative years, I had been granted the rare privilege of sharing a dance with a role-model even briefly, in step with leadership, vision, and ambition.

I imagine you may be wondering what I mean. Well, on Friday afternoon, I took my usual route and as always stopped to chat with my favourite group the very young ladies the future leaders of Nzema.
As I stepped closer I began a retrogressive metamorphosis in my mind, gently shrinking myself back into my childish self since it is the only way to meet them fully to learn, play, laugh without edges and leap like a goat across bright hills of imagination or hover like a butterfly not too high, not too low just free in the one brief space society allows and where wonder needs no explanation, and joy is never questioned.

That was when I heard the faint voice calling me from behind wondering why I have not been present at the Christmas party organized by Ghana gas in December for her sons and daughters in the Atuabo enclave. I could almost hear the playful accusation, “how dare you not come to the party?” Yes indeed, how dare me!

This is certainly the resultant of leadership at its best. Ghana gas is clearly at the forefront inspiring and shaping our future leaders to think ambiguously and strategically. I can boldly say without hesitation that Ms. Judith Ajobah Blay has taken the resetting agenda of the John Dramani Mahama and the NDC Administration to another level, a well planned and simple action resulting in an extraordinary impact especially on the younger generation and most importantly the girl child.

The first female CEO in Ghana’s Oil & Gas Industry is not only leading by example she is leaving bold footprints behind, footpaths that the girl child can follow with confidence and courage.

Her act of love and kindness has already begun to transform young minds. It tells them to dream without the use of words, evidently, she is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to the youth, women and children of Nzema and Ghana as a whole.

Despite her demanding schedules, accompanied by some of her Management team including the newly appointed highly able General Manager of Admin & General Services Madam Charlotte Lily Baidoo, Ms Judith travelled back to back from the capital city to celebrate the end of year with her people in Atuabo. It was simple but beautiful and amazing, what appeared like a normal party is in truth something far greater.

Undoubtedly, it was a powerful role-model effect for the young girls to see a female CEO sitting beside them, eating and dancing with them quietly reshapes their sense of what is possible. In that humbleness moment, leadership stops being distant it became tangible, cultivating confidence, resilience, ambition and invisibly, a transformative belief takes root in their young minds instantly.

The impact goes even further, it normalizes women in leadership and decision-making roles. Women entrepreneurs, vendors and planners gain visibility and income, stories are shared networks are formed and solidarity is reinforced.
When women led events they naturally prioritize child friendly environments promoting values such as respect, equality, joy and belongingness.

Young people witness ethical capable leadership in action, through volunteering and participation they feel encouraged to contribute to community development, diverse groups come together solidifying unity and building a shared identity.

The bigger picture is clear. A party organized by a woman CEO is never just a party. It becomes a symbol of inclusive leadership, a platform for empowerment and a catalyst for social and economic growth. As Michelle Obama simply put “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”

And somewhere in Nzema a little girl is already dreaming bigger because she danced with a woman who showed her what is possible. She is already preparing to step into the cable shoes of Ms. Judith the CEO of Ghana gas.