Takoradi: The Energy Commission has initiated a significant step towards embedding gender considerations into its operational framework. This initiative aims to develop a draft Gender Policy and Action Plan designed to foster inclusiveness, enhance responsiveness, and strengthen interactions with key stakeholders in the sector. The policy is expected to contribute to achieving various protocols and human development goals.
According to Ghana News Agency, Professor John Gatsi, the Board Chairman of the Energy Commission, along with board members, convened in Takoradi, Western Region, to deliberate on the draft policy. The draft, crafted by Dr. Rose Mensah Kutin, the lead consultant, and her team, aims to guide the Energy Commission on specific gender issues that require attention, aligning with the national gender policy to promote inclusiveness, innovation, and efficiency.
Prof. Gatsi emphasized that gender equality serves as a crucial catalyst for development, highlighting the significant roles played by different departments under the Commission in addressing gender-specific issues within the energy sector. Dr. Audrey Smock, the National Director of the National Development Planning Commission, pointed out the policy's purpose to address the existing gaps in gender mainstreaming within the sector. She stressed the importance of implementing arrangements to maximize the policy's impact.
Dr. Smock also underscored the alignment of the Energy Commission's draft with international and national gender development frameworks. Dr. Rose Kutin, the project's consultant, highlighted the relevance of ECOWAS protocols that advocate for equal access to energy services, emphasizing the need to prioritize gender-specific needs, usage, business models, and access.
Dr. Kutin praised the Energy Commission's decision to formulate the policy as a proactive measure to enhance the 2.2% annual growth rate for women in the energy sector. She advocated against a gender-blind approach and highlighted unconscious biases that have historically marginalized women in areas such as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). She also stressed the importance of consciously addressing these biases to achieve a balanced society.
Furthermore, Dr. Kutin highlighted the necessity for deliberate engagement of women and the integration of their perspectives into national development priorities. The draft policy review was collaboratively conducted by Dr. Kutin and Ms. Catherine Achuliwor, aimed at providing the Commission's Board with a comprehensive evaluation for further analysis and enhancement.