Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs (GAWE) is an association of self- employed women manufacturers and exporters of goods and services. A non Governmental, non profit making Organization formed in 1991 and formally registered as a company limited by guarantee in 1993
It is an affiliate of the
African Federation of Women Entrepreneurs (AFWE)
AFWE was established by 25 African countries including Ghana through the initiative of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) with a mandate from the ECA Conference of Ministers of Economic Planning and Development held in Addis Abba, Ethiopia in April, 1992.
The Conference Adopted the Resolution 736 (XXVII) on women and their access to resources in the 1990s. It stressed the importance of creating an enabling environment for the enhancement of women’s entrepreneurial activities as well as their access to resources.
The resolution further called upon member States to promote the setting up of national associations of women entrepreneurs in their countries and requested the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) to facilitate the process of immediate creation of the Association of Women entrepreneurs in Africa.
UNECA based on their mandate, called for an Expert Group meeting in Nairobi Kenya in October, 1991. The meeting was attended by Experts from the 5 Regions in Africa; Consultants from Asia who had formed federations of associations of entrepreneurs were also invited
The meeting came out with a recommendation for the formation of Federation of women entrepreneurs in Africa constitutions and regulations were drafted to govern the Federation. This was presented to African Ministers of Economic Planning and Development Conference held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in April 1992 for consideration and adoption.