The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Prof. Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson is emphasising the inclusion of women in policy formulation and implementation.

In an address read on her behalf by Prof. Marian Asantewah Nkansah of the Directorate of Student Affairs, she expressed the belief that it is the best way to realise the SDG 5.

“Women and girls in science need to be in the Boardrooms to be part of decision making and policy making.

“Women and Girls need to be in the fields and on the grounds implementing gender responsive decisions.

“There is no doubt about the fact that some advances have been made the past decade, as far as the recognition of the role of women and girls in science is concerned, however, SDGs 5, which is to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, cannot be fully realised if without an intensified effort in making sure steps towards INNOVATING DEMONSTRATION ELEVATION ADVANCING SUSTAINING steps in support of women are applied in all the spaces where humans exist,” she said.

She was speaking as part of activities to mark the 2023 International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS).

Globally, women make up about 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields. 

The 8th IDWGIS aims to bridge the International Community and women in science by linking their knowledge and expertise and its applications in a systematic, critical way for the 2030 agenda and its 17 global goals.

The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS Ghana) and its partners held the forum across three major university campuses in Ghana to commemorate the 2023 International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGIS).

The event was held simultaneously at the University of Ghana Legon, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University for Development Studies.

It was under the theme, bring everyone forward for sustainable and equitable development through ideas. 

The programme forms part of AIMS Ghana’s mandate of organising scientific events and knowledge dissemination through scientific outreaches and seminars relevant to UNESCO’s programmes as a Category II Centre of Excellence.

The Chief Operating Officer of AIMS Ghana, Adelaide Asante said the “forum will create a platform for female scientists, researchers, and other science professionals to engage with each other and share experiences on how they have been using their careers to make an impact in the implementation of the SDGs”.

The forum brought together women in science, youth, experts, and professionals who engaged in dialogues and discussions with students and other participants to address questions on identifying conditions and tools to put Science, Technology, and Innovation at the heart of sustainable development programs for women and girls.

The Kumasi Center focused on mentorship. Dr. Mrs. Mercy Badu of WiSTEMGh stressed the need to project the achievement of women in science through mentorship.

“This is the time we need to project the achievements of women. If they’re innovative they need to demonstrate their innovation. If they demonstrate their achievements, they need to be advised,” she said.

Director of Planning and Quality Assurance at the Kumasi Technical University, Prof. Abena Obiri-Yeboah called for ways of resolving mentor-mentee conflicts.

“A mentor is supposed to help you achieve your next set of goals. If a mentor is not going to help you, it’ll be better if you end the relationship. But does not mean you should pick up your phone and insult the person, because you’ll never know where you’re going to meet that person again,” she said.

Senior Research Scientists at Forestry Research Institute (CSIR-FORIG), Dr. Mrs. Gloria Djagbletey encouraged mentees to approach potential mentors.

“You should pray for discernment but if you don’t get closer to a mentor, you wouldn’t know whether that place will be good for you,” she said.

Some of the students who spoke with Joy News were happy the meeting has urged them to positively impact society.

“They’ve made us know, nothing should be a hindrance to us, when it comes to STEM related stuff,” Zulfawu Adamu of KNUST SHS said.

“I can boast today that I don’t fear science and will never fear science,” Patricia Mensah of Afia Kobi Girl’s SHS said.

The event was sponsored by the Henry Luce Foundation, and partnered with the UN in Ghana and UNESCO. AIMS Women in STEM (AIMSWIS), WiSTEMGh and KTCSR-UDS were organisers.