At the 16th edition of the Timekeeping Series Dialogue, a panel of accomplished women in Ghana’s corporate sector delivered candid and heartfelt insights on the difficult balance between family responsibilities and professional ambition.
Their unanimous advice: women, especially married women navigating the corporate world, should consciously build diverse support systems to help manage the competing demands of work and home.
Emelia Attoh encourages realistic expectations
Lawyer Emelia Attoh shared her personal journey of managing guilt in the quest for the ever-elusive work-life balance.
Drawing from her early years as a professional and a mother, she told participants that it is crucial to accept that one cannot “win it all” and that peace of mind comes from focusing on what truly matters.
“There was so much guilt that came from trying to balance everything,” Mrs Attoh recounted. “But I realised that you can’t win every battle. You need to choose the ones that are critical for you to do.”
She encouraged young women not to succumb to societal pressures or internal guilt, but rather to live fully in each moment—be it at home or in the office—in order to deliver meaningful value.
Mrs Attoh emphasised the importance of tapping into different support systems.
“I don’t use one support system. I use several. Whichever is available, I just latch on and see what I’ll get from it,” she said, recalling how friends, family, colleagues, and even clients provided her with critical support during the early stages of motherhood.
Lovea Bandoh emphasises trust networks
Lovea Bandoh, an administrator with years of experience juggling corporate responsibilities and motherhood, pointed out that the domestic load on working women is not something to be handled alone.
According to her, it is important for women to identify and rely on trusted people who can take on some of the domestic responsibilities, allowing them to focus when at work or in high-pressure professional settings.
“In order to succeed both at home and in the office, women need to learn to delegate and depend on others. It’s not a sign of weakness, but a sign of wisdom,” she said.
Efya Tenge shares story of sacrifice and resilience
Retired Superintendent Efya Tenge, now Director of Public Engagement at the Parliament of Ghana, offered a poignant narrative of the near-misses she had in her career due to her spousal obligations.
She underscored that while many women are driven to excel at work, their responsibilities at home are often just as demanding.
“There were times I almost lost out on key career opportunities because of my duties as a wife,” she said. “But somehow, I always found a way to rise above the limitations.”
According to Superintendent Tenge, achieving balance is a moving target. “You may not get the work-life balance right all the time,” she admitted, “but the important thing is to always strive to do your best.”
She also highlighted the silent sacrifices made by women, many of whom juggle full-time careers and full-time family responsibilities with little fanfare or recognition.
Despite these challenges, she encouraged young women not to downplay the importance of either role, as both are equally significant to their identity and fulfillment.
Call for a cultural shift in support for working women
The dialogue concluded with a broader call for structural and cultural changes that support working women.
Speakers advocated for corporate policies that are sensitive to the realities of motherhood, more inclusive leadership development pathways for women, and a societal appreciation of the invisible labour women perform daily.
Participants left the event with a deeper understanding that success for women in the corporate world does not come from doing it all alone, but from crafting a village of support—family, friends, professional allies, and sometimes even strangers—to carry them through the many transitions of life.
As the speakers made clear, the question is not whether women can have it all, but whether they can have enough of what matters most—peace of mind, purpose, and the power to choose their own priorities.
