The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) has disclosed it will train and mentor some 300 women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) by 2021.
This is with the mind of attracting more women into the energy sector to bridge the ever-widening gender gap in the sector.
In that regard, MiDA will, on June 20, 2018 launch an internship and mentorship programme for women in some selected tertiary institutions to expose them to needed skills.
About 100 women from each batch are expected to pass out each year from the programme.
The move, by the Gender and Social Inclusion Directorate of MiDA, will, in its first phase see 50 females from five universities go through a two-month internship and mentorship programme in the energy sector.
The beneficiary institutions and universities include; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Accra Technical University, Koforidua Technical University, Akwatia Technical Institute and the Kumasi Technical University.
According to MiDA, the selection process for participation in the programme will involve second and third year students of these institutions, however, provision for lower level students is also being developed.
The Electricity Company of Ghana, Ghana Standards Authority and the Energy Commission are to be the implementing entities of the project.
Dr. Cherub Antwi Nsiah, Director of Gender and Social Inclusion at MiDA, in a press briefing in Accra said the aim of the initiative is to attract and encourage many women into STEM and the energy sector at large.
“We want to equip them to be very attractive candidates in the job market and there are supervisors to ensure that is well achieved. In addition to the training, we are going to offer them leadership, ethics and time management skills to create awareness about discrimination against women at the workplace”, she said.
Pamela Djamson, Communications Director of MiDA, recognised the initiative seeks to bridge the gender gap that has been created in the energy sector, thus allowing an even ground for both genders.
“We are excited that we are introducing this activity because it is going to be so impactful and so instrumental in altering the dynamics in the energy sector,” she concluded.
By Mawuli Y. Ahorlumegah