The Acting Director of Consumer Services at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Eunice Budu Nyarko, has been recognised at the 2026 Instinct Women Conference & Awards (IWCA) held in Nairobi.
Mrs. Nyarko received the Outstanding Woman in Stakeholder Engagement Award during the two-day event, which took place from February 26 to 27 at the Emara Ole-Sereni Hotel.
The recognition celebrates her contributions to strengthening stakeholder engagement and improving consumer services within Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
In her role at the NPA, Mrs. Nyarko has led a number of initiatives aimed at improving consumer protection and regulatory transparency. These include strengthening systems for resolving consumer complaints, expanding public education campaigns on fuel and LPG safety, improving communication between regulators and industry stakeholders, and promoting data-driven approaches to service delivery.
Her work has helped build greater public confidence in regulatory oversight while also improving collaboration between the Authority, industry operators, and consumers.
The 2026 conference was held under the theme “Women Who Move Nations: Leadership, Legacy & Impact,” and brought together senior government officials, corporate executives, development partners, and women leaders from across Africa to discuss the role of women in governance, institutional development, and economic transformation.
In his welcome address, Akin Naphtal, Group CEO of InstinctWave, noted that women across Africa are increasingly playing active roles in building institutions, shaping public policy, driving innovation, and influencing economic development.
He explained that the conference platform was designed to not only highlight challenges but also showcase solutions, recognise impactful leadership, and celebrate individuals whose contributions are driving meaningful change.
Delivering a keynote address, Sheila Addo emphasised that impactful leadership requires the courage to make difficult decisions, the commitment to strengthening institutions beyond one’s tenure, and the ability to deliver tangible improvements in people’s lives.
She also pointed to research indicating that organisations with women in leadership positions are more likely to achieve stronger financial performance and above-average profitability.
While acknowledging ongoing challenges such as limited access to capital, underrepresentation in senior political roles, and systemic barriers, she stressed that the focus should now be on creating systems that accelerate and sustain women’s leadership.
During the awards ceremony, Dr. Addo was also honoured as Woman Leader of the Year – Energy Regulation in recognition of her leadership in Ghana’s energy regulatory space.
The National Petroleum Authority also received the Women Empowerment Champion Award – Public Sector for its commitment to gender inclusion and institutional equity, while Maria Edith Oquaye was recognised as Outstanding Woman in Corporate Communications.
The recognitions highlight the growing influence of Ghanaian women in public sector leadership and their contributions to strengthening institutions and advancing national development.