UG Centre for Gender Studies holds forum

Dr Adolf Awuku Bekoe (second left) speaking at the event

 An Engineering student at the University of Ghana, Legon Mrs Anna-Marie Oyan, has appealed to the University to pay attention to derogatory remarks that some lecturers make at students, especially female students, in order to make the University “a gender-safe”institution.

She believes sexist com­ments could affect female students negatively hence the need to treat such “loose ut­terances” with the contempt it deserves.

Mrs Anna-Marie Oyan was speaking at a Gender Sensiti­sation programme last Friday organised by the Centre for Gender Studies and Advoca­cy (CEGENSA) and Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT).

She was part of panel­lists who spoke at the event on the theme; “Creating a Gender Equitable University Community: Perspectives of Students.”

A Research Fellow at CEGENSA, Dr Abena Kyere, also speaking at the event, said the University of Ghana, being the premier tertiary institution to set up a gender centre, had provided equal opportunity for all category of students.

“We are conscious of the increasing population at the university and we are able to influence others to be gender sensitive within our societies to reflect our cultural norms and values,” she said.

She noted that the Uni­versity’s Gender Policy addressed a wide range of issues, therefore, students should approach the centre whenever they encountered any misconduct by colleagues, lecturers or any members of the university community.

Highlighting other concerns to be addressed, Mrs Beatrice Boamah, General Secretary of the Graduate Students’ Association of Ghana (GRAS­AG) also urged the University to raise awareness on mental health issues in addition to the existing career and coun­selling centre.

Another panellist, Dr Adolf Awuku Bekoe, noted that de­spite the strides the Universi­ty was making, much needed to be done in relation to the lighting system on campus.

“Between the School of Public Health and Sarbah Hall, the lighting system is poor. There are many dark alleys as well which need prompt attention,” he said.

He again tasked students to empower themselves and take advantage of the numerous opportunities the University presented to them.

In her remarks, the Chair­person of the occasion, Mrs Eugenia Selasie Seadey, stated that the introduction of an Affirmative Action Policy at the student level had helped increase the enrollment of females, especially in male dominated programmes.

She lauded student activ­ists and organisations for their advocacy in ensuring gender equity at the university.

A Senior Programme Of­ficer, Mrs Cynthia Sunu, took the students through the role of NETRIGHT in championing Women’s Rights.

 By Yunusah Essandoh