The Acting Director of Consumer Services at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mrs. Eunice Budu Nyarko, has been honoured with the Outstanding Woman in Stakeholder Engagement Award at the 2026 Instinct Women Conference & Awards (IWCA), held from 26–27 February 2026 at the Emara Ole-Sereni Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
The recognition celebrates Mrs. Nyarko’s significant contributions to stakeholder engagement and the advancement of consumer services within Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
She has led initiatives that strengthened structured consumer complaint resolution systems, expanded public sensitisation campaigns on fuel and LPG safety, enhanced transparency in regulatory communication, and promoted data-driven approaches to service delivery.
Her work has reinforced public confidence in regulatory oversight and improved collaboration between the Authority, industry operators, and consumers.
The 2026 edition of IWCA was convened under the theme, “Women Who Move Nations: Leadership, Legacy & Impact,” bringing together senior government officials, corporate executives, development partners, and women leaders from across Africa to examine the transformative role of women in governance, institutional reform, and economic development.
In his welcome address, Akin Naphtal, Group CEO of InstinctWave, the organisers of the conference, underscored that women across Africa are no longer seeking representation alone but are actively building institutions, shaping public policy, driving innovation, and influencing economies.
He noted that the conference platform was designed not merely to discuss barriers, but to spotlight solutions, celebrate measurable impact, and honour leadership defined by influence, courage, and legacy.
Delivering a keynote address, Sheila Addo highlighted three defining attributes of impactful leadership: the courage to make difficult decisions when the stakes are high; the commitment to strengthening institutions and reforming systems beyond one’s tenure; and the resolve to ensure that leadership translates into tangible improvements in lives and national stability.
She emphasised that leadership begins with purpose and that when talent meets opportunity, women create lasting change.
Dr. Addo further observed that evidence consistently shows that when women lead, communities thrive.
She cited studies indicating that organisations with women in leadership positions demonstrate a significantly higher likelihood of achieving above-average profitability.
While acknowledging persistent challenges such as unequal access to capital, underrepresentation in senior political roles, and systemic barriers, she stressed that the question is no longer whether African women can lead, but how societies can create systems that accelerate and sustain women’s leadership.
She called for deliberate investment in girls and inclusive leadership models that drive national advancement.
At the awards ceremony, Dr. Addo was also named Woman Leader of the Year – Energy Regulation in recognition of her outstanding leadership within Ghana’s energy regulatory space.
The National Petroleum Authority received the Women Empowerment Champion Award – Public Sector for its commitment to gender inclusion and institutional equity, while Maria Edith Oquaye was honoured as Outstanding Woman in Corporate Communications.
The recognitions underscore the growing impact of Ghanaian women in public sector leadership and their role in strengthening institutions and advancing national development.
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