POWER COMPACT SUPPORTS FIRST GROUP OF 50 FEMALE STUDENTS ON INTERNSHIP AND MENTORING PROGRAM

Female stu­dents pursu­ing courses in Science, Technol­ogy, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at various Ghanaian institu­tions on Wednesday June 20 began a two-month pilot Intern­ship and Mentoring Programme, spon­sored by the Ghana Power Compact. The first Cohort of Interns consists of 50 students, out of which 42 were engaged by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), two by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and six by the Energy Commission (EC).

The Ghana Power Compact Internship and Mento­ring Programme (GPCIMP), is expected to support female STEM Students to acquire relevant and prac­tical skills that will prepare them for careers in the power sector. The Students have been drawn from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Accra Technical University, Koforidua Technical University, Kumasi Technical University and Akwatia Technical Institute.

At the launch of the Internship Programme, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Otiko Afisa Djaba, applauded the initiative and pledged her Ministry’s support; “indeed this is one of several pathways that would lead to a com­mon goal. I am happy to note that MiDA intends to explore partnerships with stakeholders work­ing to achieve the same goal” she said. The Minis­ter encouraged the Interns to take advantage of the opportunity. “Consider yourselves as Ambassadors for this Programme because your experiences will form useful lessons for all of us” she said.

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Otiko Djaba speaking at the launch

Dr. Cherub Antwi-Nsiah, Director Gender and Social Inclusion at MiDA, explained that the initiative will help address the incidence of low female enrolments in STEM Courses, which is as a result several factors such as (i) low participation of girls in science-related Courses at Secondary and other levels (ii) traditional beliefs and attitudes about women’s roles in society that encourages gender-based segregation of profes­sions and does not encourage girls and women to venture into STEM Education, (iii) lack of strong role models, (iv) perception of society that dictates wom­en cannot be engineers because they don’t have the physical strength to perform roles adequately, (v) societal beliefs and attitudes about girls’/women’s inability to perform well in Science and Math related Courses, (v) lack of awareness and guidance about career options in STEM, (vi) societal perceptions that portray STEM Education and career as a male pre­ferred discipline.

The GPCIMP is one of several activities recommend­ed in the Social and Gender Integration Plan (SGIP) which was launched in October 2017. The SGIP pro­vides a blueprint on how to improve social inequali­ties in Ghana’s Power Sector.