Deborah Borketey-Tackie known in showbiz as DEBBYQUEEN is a dynamic and visionary leader with an unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment. She is a familiar figure among Ghanaian women. As the Founder and Executive Lead of DebbyQueen Productions, Deborah is the driving force behind two flagship initiatives—the She Triumph Conference and the Triumph Women Awards—both established to inspire, equip, and elevate women across diverse sectors.
Her mission is rooted in unlocking the Power of the Daring Woman by creating transformative platforms that spark inspiration, foster connection, and ignite sustainable growth. She provides women with the resources, visibility, and networks needed to scale their businesses, amplify their voices, and achieve personal and professional triumph. Deborah’s commitment to tangible empowerment is further demonstrated through the Triumph Creative Women Hub, which equips emerging female entrepreneurs with practical skills and direct business funding to support their entrepreneurial pursuits. She is highly skilled in strategic event design, stakeholder engagement, public speaking, and community building, with a track record of delivering impactful programs that catalyze social and economic advancement.
Over the years, Deborah has worked with Blowchem Industries (Bel-Aqua), Wilmar Africa (Frytol), Charger Limited(Happy Man), GTP, Darling Hair, Ghandour Cosmetics, Sweet Aroma Print, Golden Tulip Hotel (Lancaster Accra Hotel), Airport View Hotel, MJ Grand Hotel, Group Jay n Jay, Vendajules Empire, Emerging Music Awards, Miss Golden Stool, amongst others
She speaks exclusively with Sunday Oyinloye, Publisher Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable
Excerpts:
Why did you start your flagship initiatives; the Triumph Conference, and Triumph Women Awards?
These initiatives exist to fill a critical gap: the lack of a unified, high-impact platform that not only celebrates Ghanaian women but also strategically invests in their growth. Many events honour women and many conferences offer inspiration. SHE TRIUMPH merges both. The conference is the engine for ignition, where minds are equipped, networks are built, and daring is summoned. The Awards are the visible testament where excellence is publicly recognized, creating role models and rewriting the narrative of what a successful Ghanaian woman looks like. Together, they form a complete ecosystem of empowerment: from inspiration to recognition to tangible investment, as seen with our Triumph Creative Hub seed funding.
Would you say these initiatives have made any appreciable impacts in the lives of Ghanaians?
Absolutely, and the impact is both qualitative and quantitative. Qualitatively, we have shifted mind-sets. Women leave our conference not just inspired, but armed with actionable steps and connections. The emotional moment when Hon. Obuobia Darko-Opoku doubled our winner’s seed fund was not just about money; it was a national display of belief in women’s dreams. Quantitatively, we have directly injected capital into businesses like Ms. Reeda’s, honoured over 100 women across sectors from governance to grassroots, giving their work amplified visibility, and created a thriving community. The ripple effect is real: an awardee gains a major client, a mentee refines her business model, a young attendee finds her courage. The impact is in these lived stories.
What do you consider as the major challenge facing the average Ghanaian woman, and what should be done to address it?
The core challenge is the access gap, not just access to finance, but to networks, mentorship, markets, and confidence. The average Ghanaian woman is talented and resilient, but she often operates in isolation, lacking the ecosystem that accelerates success. To address this, we need a multi-pronged approach:
- Systemic Mentorship: Structured programs pairing established leaders with emerging talent.
- Patient, Gender-Smart Capital: Financial products designed for women’s business models and growth cycles.
- Platforms for Visibility: Consistent, credible stages like ours to showcase their work to a wider audience.
- Mind-set Revolution: Continual advocacy to challenge societal limitations and instil self-belief. It is about building bridges at every level.
Like any other initiative, you must be having some challenges. What are they, and how are you coping with them?
Our primary challenge is sustainable funding and scalability. As a mission-driven enterprise, securing corporate partnerships that align with our vision beyond one-off event sponsorship is crucial. Secondly, managing the sheer scale of expectation, women now see SHE TRIUMPH as a lifeline and requires professionalizing our internal structure.
What do you have for Ghanaian women in 2026 can you list them?
2026 is about deepening impact and expanding reach. We are moving beyond the annual moment to year-round engagement. Key focuses will be:
- The Formal Launch of the “SHE TRIUMPH Mentorship Exchange”: A structured program linking our awardees and speakers with upcoming women for guided growth.
- Regional Outreach: Taking curated “Triumph Dialogues” to key regions to identify and nurture talent outside Accra.
- The Triumph Women Fund (Pilot): Actively working to establish a micro-grant and investment readiness program to fund more women-led businesses.
- An even more prestigious and globally recognized Awards ceremony, elevating Ghanaian women on the continental stage.
How do you see She Triumph Conference and Triumph Women Awards in years to come?
I see it evolving into the global Pan-African hub for women’s empowerment. In five years, I envision the Awards becoming a televised event that sets the benchmark for celebrating women’s achievement in Africa. We will be the pipeline that identifies talent, the platform that amplifies it, and the community that sustains it.
What is your message for African women?
My message is simple: Your power is not a whisper; it is a roar waiting for its moment. The world has told you to shrink, to wait, to doubt. I am here to tell you to expand, to build, to lead. Your ‘daring’ is not just for you, it is a legacy for the girl who watches you, a blueprint for your community, a necessary contribution to our continent. Stop asking for a seat at the table. Build your own table, gather your sisters, and invite others to join. Your triumph is not a possibility; it is inevitability. Now, let’s get to work.
