The Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) has celebrated the 2022 International Women’s Day with a two-day webinar series, proudly sponsored by United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), Ghana on breaking the gender bias in academia, activism, and leadership.
In her opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, noted that the CEGENSA-UNFPA webinar is in line with one of the key strategic priorities of the University of Ghana-on Gender and Diversity, which aims to create a just and equal teaching, learning and work environment for all members of the University community.
She was confident that the webinar series would ignite ‘latent intellectual and leadership potentials’ in early career faculty so they can significantly contribute towards building the society.
Prof. Daniel Frimpong Ofori, Provost of the College of Humanities in his remarks said, “there are biases against people notably women, but it is also possible to flourish as an academic in University of Ghana which is a motivating factor”. He added that the themes of the webinar were relevant to enable female intellectuals excel within the walls of the University.
Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Former Director, CEGENSA, who was the first to be interviewed on the theme, Inspiring Intellectual Activism and Leadership, shared pivotal moments in her career trajectory.
Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Former Director, CEGENSA
Speaking on leadership, Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo charged more women to take up leadership positions. She emphasized that a leader who aims at making a difference will step on some toes, be critical or make mistakes since leadership with the aim of establishing positive changes is not a comfortable space.
Prof. Adomako Ampofo encouraged early career women faculty to collaborate with their peers in their intellectual activities. ‘You don’t survive in the Academy if you try to do it all on your own', she said. Prof. Ampofo who is also the lead researcher and producer of the documentary, ‘When Women Speak’, threw light on the 60-seconds snippet of the documentary shown during the webinar.
Prof. Esther Sakyi-Dawson, Former Director, Academic Quality Assurance Unit, who was interviewed on the second day addressed the topic, ‘Defying Gender Bias: Pathways to Becoming a Flourishing Academic’. She stated, it was necessary for women and academics to build social networks. “As an academic, it is crucial to develop networks since having works and publications without acknowledgement is not enough to make an impact”, she said.
Prof. Esther Sakyi-Dawson, Former Director, Academic Quality Assurance Unit
Prof. Sakyi-Dawson encouraged women to feel proud of themselves and never consider the female gender as a hindrance to greatness and success. She said, “Your comfort zone restricts you, so you need to do better and try. Be intentional about trying”.
Mr. Niyi Ojuolape, Resident Representative, UNFPA, in brief remarks indicated UNFPA’s excitement to partner with CEGENSA to work together to support and strengthen the Centre in its coordinating and leadership role in the areas of gender, equality and empowerment. Mr. Ojuolape was of the firm belief that this move will help build the capacity of women to take up more leadership roles at all levels of the University.
In her concluding address, Dr. Deborah Atobrah, Director, CEGENSA, indicated that the Center is keenly interested in the mentoring and professional development of early and mid-career academics, for which it had put the webinar series together. Dr. Atobrah expressed appreciation to the University Management, UNFPA and all participants who had joined in from Europe, United States of America, other parts of Africa and locally. She was hopeful that the webinar series had achieved its aim of inspiring more women to accomplish greater heights.
A cross-section of participants at the webinar
