Story by: Ishmael Barfi
The Minerals Commission of Ghana has pledge it commitment towards the enhancement of women participation in the mining sector to enrich their skills and knowledge to enable them to take up key roles in their respective institutions in the mining industry.
According to the Commission, the role of women in the mining industry can not be undermined, hence the need to invest in the capacity building and promotion of women participation at the highest level in the industry.
The subject of women in leadership according to the Deputy Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Madam Shirley Kyei said remains pervasive in the industry and needs to be addressed.
Madam Shirley Kyei on behalf of the Commission made this commitment at the Annual General Meeting of Women in Mining held on Thursday, 27th January, 2022 in Accra.
Madam Shirley Kyei, Deputy Chief Executive of Minerals Commission
“Women continue to be considerably underrepresented in our political, corporate, social, economic and religious setting”, she lamented.
She revealed that, the sector’s 2020 labour data for producing large-scale companies recorded a total labour of 31,609 with males being 28,715 and females 2,894 representing 91% and 9% respectively.
Adding that, further analysis of these figures depicts a bleak picture that,mining companies have a lower- than average percentage of women at junior levels this creating an even more unbalanced ratio at senior levels.
Cross Section of participants at the Annual General Meeting
In respect to the above, Madam Shirley Kyei indicated that, the Commission as the Regulator of the sector has taken notice of this challenges and is eager to address it to enhance more women participation at key managerial positions in the industry.
She also acknowledged the contributions of Women in Mining, saying “as they say, Charity begins at home, your advocacy over the years contributed to the establishment of the Commission’s gender desk in 2019 as well as the appointment of a woman to serve as a Board Chairperson of the Minerals Commission by the President of the Republic”.
Although governments across the world have implemented a range of innovations to advance women in leadership, significant gaps sill remain(s).
Explaining that, women still lap behind men in access to decision-making and leadership positions in public and economic life, from local communities to global levels.
We are Committed to enhance Women Participation- Minerals Commission
She emphatically stated that, it unacceptable that, in countries where women have assumed top levels positions , there are gender pay gap inequalities which to her, ultimately leads to discrimination at the workplace.
This she noted does not only shows underrepresentation of women in leadership but their participation in the entire sector.
However, the Deputy Chief Executive of the Commission was quick to note that,instances where women have been in position of leadership and authority, remarkable progress has been recorded.
Citing Yaa Asantewaa,Esther Ocloo, Theodosia Okoh, Efua Sutherland, Mary Chinery-Hesse, Ama At Aidoo, Georgina Theodora Wood, Joyce Bamford-Addo, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, as well as Dr. Joyce Aryee who have led the way in wen empowerment in Ghana.
All these women participation she noted has demonstrated the importance of women in nation development and growth.
Women in Mining Annual General Meeting
“The participation of women had been shown to positively influence societies, improve economic development and enhances sustainability”, she said
adding that, a growing body of evidence suggests that,stronger financial performance, improved governance and reduced risk of bankruptcy are associated with the participation of women on corporate boards and in Senior Management positions.
To enhance women participation at managerial roles and positions in the mining industry, Madam Shirley Kyei, the Deputy Chief Executive of Minerals Commission stated that, the Commission is putting strategic measured in place to advance this course.
We are Committed to enhance Women Participation- Minerals Commission
The Minerals and Mining (Local Content and Local Participation) Regulations 2020, L.I sets out provisions that will help to enhance women participation in the mining sector.
“I will admit that, these new positions and L.I have not yet made that impact but I believe the much needed meaningful change could be achieved by close collaboration between Women in Mining and Minerals Commission, this assured them (Women in Mining) that, the Commission doors are widely open to champion this cause in the mining industry.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
