Women working in the mining sector in Ghana faced challenges that inhibit their effective participation in the sector.
The challenges confronting the women include stigmatisation and socio-cultural barriers include superstition and sexual harassment, inadequate facilities in the work environment, discrimination as well as the lack of role models and low or no visibility of women professionals.
Women in the mining and extractive sector offer services in technical, geology, engineering, and in general services as in communications, finance, administrations and operations, as well as academia, industry and government agencies.
These came to light in a presentation at a workshop organised by the Friends of the Nation (FoN) in collaboration with Oxfam Ghana, in Accra.
Members of the Ghana National Association of Small-scale Miners (GNASSM) and the Women in the Mining (WIM) Ghana, attended the workshop aimed at strengthening their capacity on developing and implementing effective advocacy and networking strategies.
It was also to help equip them to effectively influence policies and practices of decision makers to improve their lots in the mining sector.
Ms Georgette Sakyi-Addo, President of Women in Mining Ghana who made the revelation in a presentation said the women were confronted with issues on low employment chances due to childbearing and maternity leave, coupled with the issues of how to get more women to benefit from the sector; how to increase their numbers and retain those already in the sector.
She said there was also the issue of insufficient focus on ensuring that women advance in leadership in the technical areas in the mining industry for long stay.
She said WIM Ghana, was therefore, established to advocate for policies that would work increase the number and retention of women in mining, thereby, contributing to the SDG Goals 1, 5, 8 and 10, on “No Poverty, ‘Gender Equality, ‘Decent work and Economic Growth, and ‘Reduced inequality” through the building of capacity, and networking and partnerships with entities like FoN and Oxfam and other international bodies.
He therefore welcomed the workshop and said it was in line with the objectives of the WIM and would help complement their work.
Mr Solomon Kusi Ampofo, FoN Natural Resources Governance Coordinator, said the workshop was also to ensure that industry players along the mining value chain, especially, women, were better equipped to engage decision makers to support and implement actions in fulfilment of women’s rights in the mining industry.
He said the meeting was also focussing on strengthening the networking relationship between the GNASSM and WIM Ghana to deepen their joint advocacy actions to address issues that affect women miners.
It was also to strengthen the working relationship between the WIM and GNASEM for proper collaborative and joint advocacy campaign.
It was expected that the workshop would help the women to identify their needs, and common grounds to help them leverage their synergies for their advocacy work, Mr Ampofo indicated.
On his part, Mr Emmanuel Yirenkyi-Antwi, Director of Operations, Ghana National Association of Small-scale Miners said the Association exist to build women entrepreneurs just like their men counterparts as well as to demystify perception about women in Mining.
He, therefore, urged the women to stay together in one purpose, to ensure that they are better placed in the sector and were able to help in addressing issues confronting the.
Source: GNA
