Accra: The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Daniel Fenyi, has renewed his push for tertiary institutions across the country to replace the portfolio of 'Women's Commissioner' with 'Gender Commissioner' in Student Representative Council (SRC) structures.
According to Ghana Web, Fenyi argues that the change is necessary to reflect a more contemporary, inclusive, and comprehensive approach to gender advocacy in student governance. "I have, and will, continue to advocate for the role of 'Women Commissioner' in SRC portfolios across tertiary institutions to be reviewed and replaced with 'Gender Commissioner'," he stated in a release available on May 10, 2026.
Fenyi explained that while the title 'Women's Commissioner' was relevant in the past to create space for women in male-dominated institutions, current realities demand a broader and more inclusive framework. "The term 'Women Commissioner' emerged from a period when the urgent priority was to carve out space for women's voices... However, these challenges have evolved into broader gender-based concerns, many of which involve men as key actors," Fenyi noted.
To buttress his argument, he pointed to the national policy shift as a key example, citing the renaming of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. "Ghana itself reflects this conceptual shift... It is therefore inconsistent for tertiary institutions, which are centres of intellectual leadership and progressive thought, to lag behind," he added.
Fenyi emphasised that renaming the position would not weaken focus on women's issues but rather strengthen it by addressing them within a broader context. "Renaming the portfolio does not weaken the focus on women's welfare. Rather, it strengthens it by placing women's issues within a broader analytical framework," he said.
He further noted that issues such as sexual harassment, sex-for-grades, gender-based violence, and unequal access to opportunities require engaging both genders, making a 'Gender Commissioner' better positioned to tackle these challenges holistically. The GES PRO also highlighted that a Gender Commissioner would be more effective in addressing intersecting issues, including masculinity, mental health, and inclusivity.
Fenyi urged SRCs to align with both national policy direction and global best practices, describing the proposed change as "both a practical and ideological step forward." "The time for this change is now," Fenyi concluded.