The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)’s Women in Engineering (WINE) chapter has selected some Junior High School (JHS) girls within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis to groom them into becoming engineers.

Under its gender and social inclusion drive, about 100 JHS girls have been selected as part efforts to close the gender gap within the engineering space.

Energy issues affect women and men differently, with each having different roles and responsibilities in their households, markets and communities.

On this score, the ECG has resolved to work on empowering both men and women by integrating gender considerations into its energy operations, knowledge development and technical assistance.

The Amasaman District Engineer, Benedicta Opoku Mensah, while lamenting the available statistics on the gender gap in engineering, said the number of women is minimal considering the total number of engineers in Ghana.

She said the mentorship by WINE will help to chart a new path where they would encourage female students to read programmes and courses in engineering.

“To stem this unhealthy situation, the Electricity Company of Ghana, has decided to help girls have easy access to education and career opportunities through its mentorship, coaching and career guidance sessions.

“It envisages that these young ladies will be able to use the full potentials to develop the world,” she said.

The Manager of Gender and Social Initiative at ECG, Rosemond Frimpong, said the Company seeks to empower the young generation of females by demystifying the idea that science and maths-related fields are difficult and preserve for males.

She added that although progess has been made in ensuring opportunities for women in STEM fields, women and girls continue to be systematically underrepresented as users and leaders in the fields.

Meanwhile, the Western Regional Director of the ECG, Emmanuel Ofori, revealed after some years of mentorship, the students being trained will be enrolled into the Company and given the needed support.