Professor Charlotte Wrigley-Asante
The Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA), University of Ghana, has held a two-day roundtable conference for Directors and Coordinators of Gender Centres in institutions of higher learning in Ghana. The theme of the conference was “Strengthening Cooperation among Gender Centres in Higher Institutions in Ghana”. Participants were drawn from both public and private universities in Ghana.
In her welcome address, the Director of CEGENSA, Professor Charlotte Wrigley-Asante, indicated that the conference was aimed at reviewing progress made in the gender mainstreaming efforts in the various universities and discussing innovative ways of addressing any persisting challenges. She also noted that the conference was an opportunity for gender centres to explore common research areas particularly on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah, Provost of the College of Humanities, who chaired the opening session congratulated CEGENSA for the efforts made over the years in mainstreaming gender in the University’s policies and programmes. He also appreciated the fact that many public universities had come out with reforms on academic programmes to include courses on gender studies and policies to enhance female admission into the universities. He however, urged participants to work in partnership to identify common research interests in order to address outstanding gender-related issues of concern both within and outside the universities.
Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor in charge of Research, Innovation and Development, Professor Francis Dodoo, entreated participants to be sensitive to issues of gender inequality and approach them in the same manner as other forms of inequality such as class or race. He stressed on attitudinal change and commitment towards gender issues and encouraged participants to promote both males and females in the discussion of gender issues.
Professor Francis Dodoo
Emerita Professor Elizabeth Ardayfio-Schandorf, the Keynote Speaker for the conference reiterated the need to pay attention to gender equality as it is key in enabling women to attain higher levels of education, enhancing economic growth and slowing the rate of population growth. She advised the female faculty to strive to attain professorial levels and encouraged students to carry out research in gender-related issues. She further impressed on the universities to promote gender equality in their institutions as was stipulated in the Swedru and Elmina conferences on gender mainstreaming in Ghanaian universities.
Emerita Professor Elizabeth Ardayfio-Schandorf
In his closing remarks, Professor Samuel Agyei-Mensah urged participants to promote gender equality in all aspects of higher education and expressed appreciation for their commitment towards promoting gender issues in their respective universities.
