Gender
More women to become players in energy sector
DMWA Resources, a Pan-African energy marketing and investment holding organisation, has endorsed the gender equity campaign, ‘Equal by 30’, which aims to encourage women in the clean energy sector to access equal pay, equal leadership and equal opportunities.
Alongside six partner organisations, DMWA has joined the campaign to increase the total number of signatories to 144, including 118 organisations, 13 partners and 13 governments.
The organisation said it wants to encourage its clients and partners to “have a strong inclusive agenda, which will facilitate women’s involvement in the energy industry”.
According to the Peterson Institute for International Economics, increasing the number of women in leadership positions from 0 to 30 per cent translates to a 15 per cent boost in profits.
A study, conducted in 2015 by the McKinsey Global Institute, emphasised the essence of taking steps to advance greater equality for women, such as employing more women in technology and boosting women’s participation in the workforce.
It noted that the world could add $12 trillion to its economy by 2026, hence the need for public, private, and social sectors to close gender gaps in work and society.
Sebastian Wagner, Managing Partner at DMWA Resources described the move as “a unique position to bring women on board decisively, as investors or creators of opportunities to invest in”.
“We’re really proud to become signatory today and firmly believe that any sound investment must be one that has women on board.
“Our core focus is on creating long-term value to benefit ourselves, our partners, host countries and their citizens. We are certain that this cannot be achieved without women’s participation,” he added.
Endorsement of the ‘Equal by 30’ campaign implies DMWA Resources is committed to offering a safe, transparent, respectful and inclusive work environment and attractive opportunities for development for all its staff, including women.
The organisation said it would “provide training opportunities to all employees to avoid toxic or misogynistic working environments, so that its workplaces are free of harassment, violence and bullying behaviours”.
Among several other commitments, the energy marketing company added that it would attract women in all departments and aim for approximately 50 per cent representation of women across all levels, including leadership teams and at board level, by the year 2030.
“We commit to providing career progression opportunities as well as backing investments led by women and which will encourage women’s participation in the energy industry,” the company noted.
The ‘Equal by 30’ campaign is a joint initiative of the Clean Energy, Education and Empowerment Initiative which works to advance the participation of women in the clean energy transition and to close the gender gap.
‘Equal by 30’ is led and based at Natural Resources Canada, a division of the Government of Canada.
By Gender desk
Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, a Deputy Chief of Staff, has called for sustained legal and institutional reforms to address gender biases within Ghana’s justice system.
She urged women lawyers to build on the legacy of trailblazers who have shaped the country’s legal landscape.
Madam Bampoe Addo made the call at the maiden Biennial Conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Women’s Forum, organised in collaboration with the Ghana School of Law in Accra on Tuesday.
The event was on the theme: “The role of women lawyers in national development: honouring trailblazers.”
Madam Bampoe Addo said the progress made by women in the legal profession was not accidental but the result of years of struggle, sacrifice and determination.
She paid tribute to early trailblazers such as Matilda Foster and Annie Jiagge, saying their achievements broke barriers and opened doors for generations of women lawyers.
She commended the contributions of female judicial leaders, including Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, Mrs Sophia Akuffo, and Mrs Gertrude Torkornoo, whose leadership reflected the growing influence of women in Ghana’s judiciary.
Women lawyers had made significant contributions across multiple sectors, including the courtroom, academia, policy development, civil society advocacy and community engagement.
Madam Bampoe Addo noted that their efforts had advanced gender equality, strengthened institutions and improved access to justice in the country.
She expressed concern about the persistent gender biases within the justice system, particularly in some judicial pronouncements that could undermine the dignity of women.
The courts, she noted, must not only deliver justice but must also communicate it in a manner that upheld respect and fairness for all parties.
“There is undervaluation of women’s unpaid domestic labour, including caregiving responsibilities, which are often overlooked in legal determinations, especially in matrimonial cases,” she added.
She called for a more progressive and context-sensitive approach to adjudication, drawing on comparative jurisprudence from other jurisdictions to ensure fairness and equity.
Madam Bampoe Addo urged legal practitioners and judges to build on progressive legal precedents and ensure that Ghana’s legal system evolved to reflect contemporary social realities.
She emphasised the importance of mentorship and inclusivity, encouraging women in leadership to create opportunities for others and support the next generation of female lawyers.
She called on young women to pursue legal careers with confidence, adding that the profession offered vast opportunities to contribute to national development.
Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Donkor, the Director-General of CID, said women lawyers played indispensable roles in shaping Ghana’s legal and governance systems.
They had excelled in various fields and occupied key leadership positions, contributing to policy reforms and championing justice for vulnerable groups, she added.
COP Donkor paid tribute to trailblazing women lawyers whose achievements continued to inspire and motivate younger generations to strive for excellence.
She urged students and young practitioners to go beyond academic successes and embrace the broader mission of promoting justice, fairness and societal transformation.
She encouraged more women lawyers to consider careers in the Ghana Police Service, describing law enforcement as a critical area where legal expertise was needed to strengthen justice delivery.
She commended the organisers of the conference for the success, saying it would encourage the next generation of women lawyers to continue to make significant contributions to Ghana’s development. – GNA
The Dzidula Pink Foundation has engaged expectant mothers on cervical cancer at a recent pregnancy clinic held at St Gregory Hospital, Budumburam in the Awutu Senya East District.
The engagement formed part of its advocacy on early cancer detection to safeguard maternal health.
It also formed part of the foundation’s broader mission to raise awareness about cancers affecting women, particularly at a time when many may be least likely to consider screening especially pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Addressing a gathering of pregnant women at the clinic, the president of the foundation, Ms Fafa Gozo, highlighted a worrying trend where a significant number of women are diagnosed with cancer around the time of delivery.
This, she noted, often results from delayed screening and limited awareness about the importance of early detection.
She educated the women about the need to prioritise their health by undertaking timely cancer screening, even while navigating the demands of pregnancy.
She reiterated that early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve treatment outcomes and reduce mortality.
“Pregnancy should not be a reason to delay screening. In fact, it is a critical period where heightened awareness can save lives,” Ms Gozo said.
The engagement also created a platform for open dialogue, allowing the expectant mothers to ask questions, share concerns, and receive guidance from health professionals present at the clinic.
Health experts at the facility echoed the foundation’s message, underscoring that routine checks and screenings, when done early, can lead to timely interventions and better health outcomes for both mother and child.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
