Gender
Experts call for inclusion of women in upstream petroleum sector
Nana Darko
Experts in the energy sector have advocated a deliberate inclusiveness policy for women in the upstream petroleum sector to promote equity in Ghana’s search for gender balance in the industry.
They further suggested a policy to address the gaps in gender parity to attaining the role of all persons, particularly people with disability, in the sector that hold huge potentials for the Ghanaian population.
The experts made the submission during a panel discussions on “Building a diverse, equitable and inclusive future for Ghana’s petroleum sector” at the just-ended Local Content Conference and Exhibition (LCCE) held in Takoradi, in the Western Region.
The discussions were moderated by Dr Jemima Nunoo, Member of the Local Content Committee at the Petroleum Commission (PC).
Head of Community Relations, PC, Nana Ekua Sakyiwaa Darko, for her part, noted that, society should overcome the challenges in the promotion of inclusiveness in the upstream petroleum sector, including people living with disability.
She argued that PWDs need information and also be assured that the offshore petroleum facilities and space were disability -friendly especially in high rise buildings.
Ms Darko added that, realising these ideals meant the industry should make conscious efforts to ensure the inclusivity of the marginalised.
Ms Darko believes that “With these efforts and collaboration, we will whet the appetite of women in the sciences which appears to be male- dominated, with STEM and oil companies’ allocation of scholarships to students. We are working hard. It’s an issue with motivation and not someone giving us a favour.”
A Senior Geoscientist, at the Petroleum Commission, Modesty, submitted that agenda for inclusiveness should include an industry policy for companies to award scholarships to encourage women.
She explained to participants that students need not change their career of study generally, for technical subjects and that the industry provided spaces for finance, banking and economics, stressing there are more opportunities.”
A Petroleum Engineer at the PC, Dziedzorm Bedzrah, also said, “Women should be given the opportunity to demonstrate their great ideas, latent talents and skills to serve as a motivation, make the industry attractive, foster drive and improve image and content oil and gas industry.
The CEO of PC, Egbert Faibille, observed that inclusiveness of women was key, but, noted the decision should also factor the situation where women “are their own enemies.”
From Clement Adzei Boye, Takoradi