By: Abubakri Akilu
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), in collaboration with the women, youth, Peace and security institute of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), has concluded a nationwide school sensitization program sponsored by the Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF).
The campaign spanned all 16 regions of Ghana and ended in the Savannah Region. Its goal was to motivate young women to consider joining the GAF, especially in roles that could open doors to leadership positions as commanders and decision-makers in post-conflict environments.
Group Captain Theodora Adjoa Agornyo, Gender Policy Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff, highlighted the significance of the program during a media engagement.
She emphasized the collaborative efforts with KAIPTC's Women, Youth, Peace, and Security Institute, which provided technical advice and support for the program's successful implementation.
Agornyo noted that the initiative focused on reaching out to young women in senior high schools and tertiary institutions across Ghana. Its primary goal was to promote their active participation in combat and combat support units within the GAF, thus increasing their chances of assuming commanding roles and leading personnel in peacekeeping missions.
Acknowledging that many women already serve in the GAF, often in traditional roles like nurses, administrators, logisticians, lawyers, and doctors, the program aimed to encourage young women to explore non-traditional roles. This initiative seeks to challenge existing gender stereotypes and promote equal opportunities within the armed forces.
Agornyo urged qualified young women interested in joining the GAF to seriously consider roles in combat and combat support units. She also called upon various stakeholders, including parents, teachers, guardians, and policymakers, to throw their support behind this initiative. She stressed that merit and capability should be the sole determinants of opportunities, not gender.
Furthermore, she assured that the GAF is committed to providing equal opportunities and fairness in selection, recruitment, training, career development, promotions, and appointments, based solely on qualifications without any form of gender discrimination.
Adelaide Akua Otoo, Senior Program Officer for Women, Youth, Peace, and Security at KAIPTC, expressed excitement about the program's impact. She highlighted that since 2018, KAIPTC has been working closely with the GAF to promote gender equality within the armed forces.
Otoo mentioned that the school sensitization program aimed to educate students about career opportunities within the GAF, receiving positive responses and informing students about diverse career choices in the armed forces.
She extended gratitude to the Ghana Education Service, its regional offices, the Elsie Initiative Fund, and the GAF, particularly the International Peace Support Operations Department and the Office of the Gender Policy Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff, for their support and collaboration in implementing the initiative.
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