In efforts to ensure cohesion at the workplace, the Electricity Company of Ghana(ECG) has outdoored Gender and Social Inclusion(GSI) policy in Accra.
The policy is to promote gender equality in the company.
Speaking at the official launch of the SGI policy in Accra, the Director of Corporate Affairs at the ECG Ing. Kofi Afewu explained that, for ECG to be in lone with International best practices and standards, there is the need to have such a policy in place.
Indicating that, the policy forms part of the modernisation of the operations and strategy of ECG, hence meet the International best practice standards.
According to him this is to help eliminate discrimination of any form against women in the ECG, hence will help boost the confidence of ECG women at the work place.
“The universal access to safe energy can not be achieved when there is gender discrimination, he acknowledged.
“This policy of social inclusion is the best initiative that has happened to ECG and we are committed to making it work” he emphasized.
To ensure the effective implementation of the Gender and Social Policy, the Corporate Affairs Director further noted that GSI personnel have been appointed in all the regions to lead the agenda of the Social Inclusive policy.
Adding the scope of the GSI personnel is to cover directors, managers, contractors, customers and stakeholders.
As part of the GIS policy, Ing. Afewu later revealed that, ECG is institutionalizing an initiative to give opportunity to women and female students studying science and mathematics at the second cycle and tertiary levels to come and offer their internship with the Company.
This he believes will empower them at that level and make the gender mainstreaming agenda come to fruition.
On his part, the Managing Director of ECG Mr Kwame Agyemang Budu revealed that a 3 year action plan will be rolled out this year to ensure that the objective of the gender mainstreaming is achieved.
Adding that, there would be a self assessment approach of the policy to identify the Strength Weakness Opportunities and threats (SWOT) of it.
Therefore used the ocassion to call on other institutions to emulate the shining example of ECG.
For her, the Minister for Gender and Social Protection, Madam Cynthia Morrison stressed that gender equality does not mean women are men, maintaining that it is a perception that must change amongst men.
Whilst commending the ECG for the initiative, the Minister also urged men to change their views on women reproductive rights explaining that women invariably lose their positions during maternity period, a situation she said must stop.
The Deputy Minister for Power and the Board Chairman of ECG Hon. William- Owireku Aidoo and Mr. Kelly Gadzekpo respectively commended the ECG for the initiative hoping that, the objective of the policy will be achieved.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com/ Ishmael Barfi/ senghana@gmail.com
