Group picture of participants
Story by: Ishmael Barfi
According to a study undertaken by the Centre for Extractives and Development Africa (CEDA), inadequate legislation in Ghana’s mining sector is a key hindrance to the promotion of active female participation.
The existing Legislation of the qualitative study revealed that, does not force mining companies to undertake Gender-based programs to promote Female participation in the sector.
Highlighting more on the qualitative study at a validation Workshop organized by Women in Mining (WIM) Samuel Osei Bekoe, the Lead Researcher from the Centre for Extractives and Development, Africa (CEDA), advocated for the creation of specific female roles, to encourage them to upgrade their knowledge, skills to enable them to take up jobs and occupy leadership positions with or without mining credentials in the mining industries.
Cross Section of Participants
The findings of the case study on “Enhancing Women’s participation in the extractive Sector governance,” by CEDA with support from the Ford Foundation revealed that, a very low female participation of about nine per cent workforce in the country’s minerals mining industry.
To achieve effective and increase female participation, Mr. Bekoe reiterated the need for strengthened stakeholder collaboration with government, industries, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), to discuss challenges confronting females in their working environments within the sector, and to consider how existing policies and legislations could positively address their concerns.
Meanwhile, some complaints raised by the women during the Validation Workshop included issues of maternity protection, job security, unfavorable working environment, lack of mentorship fair leadership opportunities, and unfair remuneration.
Dr. Benjamin Aryee, Advisor to Natural Resources Minister
To address the numerous complaints, Mr. Bekoe proposed that, stakeholders should work in hand immediately with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, to develop an effective guideline to push mining industries into adopting female-based programmes to increase access and greater participation of women in the extractive industry in Ghana.
Presenting some key findings of the study, which was institutionally based, Mr. Bekoe indicated that the low level of female participation at global and local levels of the extractive sector could be attributed to years of historical exclusion of women, particularly in underground mining, citing the ‘Underground Mining Ordinance of 1926’.
“This allowed for less female participation in the mining sector due to socio-cultural and traditional reasons,” he stressed.
However, he noted that, with the current global transformation of the mining sector from a heavy-laden male dominance, some companies were beginning to demonstrate gender-neutral working environments and support, including designing suitable working gears for women miners.
Others he said have also developed levels of care for females, especially nursing mothers, and opportunities for those who would want to climb up to the governance ladder, while others were yet to adopt innovative systems.
A participant sharing her views
Citing countries like South Africa and Norway which have achieved a higher participatory ratio of women in Mining, he attributed it to their designed straight quota legislation that ensured female inclusiveness in these sectors.
In addition, government incentives for companies to adopt gender-based programs and therefore suggested these as the basis for Ghana to consider similar laws following global best practices, to shape its extractive sector.
On her part, Dr. Georgette Barnes Sakyi-Addo, the President of Women in Mining (WIM) Ghana added her voice to the call to involve more young females in the extractive industries, advocating for them to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses.
“Those who are unable to pursue STEM have opportunities to occupy positions in the various sections including administration, accounts, logistics, and supply chain,” she reiterated.
She also used the occasion to encourage female professionals on the field to seek regular upgrades of their skills and knowledge on Artificial Intelligence, improved mining methods, and look out for each other as they look for safe spaces.
This she said is an economic empowerment issue to help them develop their families and nation.
Dr Sakyi-Addo was of the view that the very low retention rate of the already limited number of female workers in the mining sector, was a huge concern for WIM Ghana, which she said is affecting its efforts to push professionals into governance positions within companies.
She said to prevail, there must be increased dialogue to shape, share knowledge, support, and encourage each other to remain in the industry.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
