Ms. Mawulawoe Adjoa Awity is the Executive Director and Programs Manager of the Network of Women in Growth (NEWIG) Ghana, a position she has held since 2017. Under her strategic leadership, NEWIG Ghana continues to build on decades of women’s economic empowerment initiatives. In her role, Ms. Awity continues the outstanding work initiated by NEWIG Ghana’s Founder and Executive Chair, Madam Mawusi Nudekor. As a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, she tirelessly works to uplift women and champion their rights. Her leadership has been instrumental in NEWIG Ghana’s efforts to provide training and support women with the skills necessary for economic empowerment. She is passionately involved in empowering women through vocational training and entrepreneurship support, promoting sustainable economic growth within communities across Ghana.

Ms. Awity’s commitment to gender equality is evident through her commitment with various women’s empowerment groups, including the Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT Ghana) and The Affirmative Action Bill Coalition. As a public speaker, she advocates for the passage of Ghana’s Affirmative Action Bill, using her platforms to amplify this critical issue. She believes in the immense potential of Ghanaian women and champions their empowerment in all facets, including financial independence.

Ms. Awity is a crop improvement scientist specializing in maize breeding, hybrid seed development, and farm management. She holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Genetics and Plant Breeding from the University of Ghana and is currently pursuing a PhD at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI). Her research focuses on developing climate and nutrient-smart maize varieties using modern plant breeding techniques. She also works as a Senior Research Assistant at WACCI, where she breeds for climate resilience in maize and resistance to Fall Armyworms. Additionally, she is involved in breeding activities for crops such as soybean, cowpea, and sorghum.

In her other professional commitments, Ms. Awity serves as the African Plant Breeders Association Graduate Student Wing (APBA-GSW) Chair and a former Outreach and Liaison Officer for the Association. She was a Graduate Research Fellow at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) from October 2014 to November 2015 and a Teaching Assistant at the University of Ghana from October 2012 to August 2013. Beyond her professional endeavors, Ms. Awity has been a volunteer with the International Youth Exchange Community since January 2014. Her commitment to mentoring youth and promoting sustainable agriculture reflects her belief in creating positive societal change.

She is a passionate agriculture scientist and gender equity activist who is driven by her commitment to advancing growth and change in Ghanaian society. With a strong background in gender advocacy, skills development, project and organization management, entrepreneurship, and negotiation, her proficiency extends to proposal development, project design, and implementation, demonstrating her comprehensive approach to operational excellence.