Women Champions in the Energy Sector: Dr. Sabina Anokye-Mensah

As a biochemist, food science, and environmental sciences professional, she has become a leading woman entrepreneur and gender advocate in Ghana's energy sector. Anokye-Mensah's interest in improved cookstoves began when she joined the Gratis Foundation in 1988 as its Gender and Development Coordinator. During her travels throughout Ghana, she noticed that women were using firewood for cooking, despite the availability of machines. In 2006, Anokye-Mensah was engaged by CIDA to work with women's groups in agro-processing to enhance their processing activities and empower them economically and technically. She traveled throughout the country, meeting women who were processing food using firewood, often with babies on their backs inhaling smoke. In 2009, she was engaged by ENERGIA to organize national training workshops on mainstreaming gender in energy projects in Ghana for various stakeholders. Anokye-Mensah's experiences and interactions with women throughout the country led her to establish her company, Anomena Ventures, in 2010. The company's target market was street food vendors, who are heavy users of charcoal. Anomena Ventures has provided liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) gas stoves to agro-processors in Ghana, particularly street food vendors, through sensitization and training to the women. The company has also partnered with the ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) to set up a production center to produce LPG stoves for households. Anokye-Mensah's company does more than just provide access to clean technology; it also conducts gender sensitization workshops in communities and trains women in handling their finances. She emphasizes the importance of engaging men in the process, as securing their buy-in is critical to success. Anokye-Mensah has witnessed women gain confidence through training and constant follow-up, learning to operate gas stoves and enhance their businesses. To date, Anomena Ventures has supplied LPG stoves to about 150 street food vendors and women entrepreneurs operating from homes. The company has also reached over 5,000 individuals in its gender sensitization workshops and technical trainings. Anokye-Mensah feels that there is much more to be done, both in terms of awareness-raising and technology dissemination. She advises young women with an interest in the energy sector to be patient, find sensible ways of dealing with problems, learn to sacrifice, and share knowledge to benefit society.