The Gender and Social Inclusion wing of the Electricity Company Ghana Limited (ECG), on Friday began mentorship training for girls in selected basic schools in the Sekondi–Takoradi metropolis of the Western Region.
The programme, which drew participants from Bethel Methodist School, Takoradi Presbyterian School, Perry Hayford School and Bedu Addo School, aimed at encouraging adolescent girls to take up engineering course and careers in future.
It is third in the series to help clarify some of the myths associated with engineering and encourage the female–child tobrace all the odds and study engineering even up to the highest level.
Dubbed ‘WINE’- Women in Engineering, it would also afford female ECG engineers and other renowned engineers to offer practical and life experiences on engineering, share personal stories, reveal opportunities in the field and show steps to sustain the interest of female students in engineering.
Speaking at the event, an Executive Member of WINE, Mrs Benedicta Opoku Mensah, recounted how some of her female colleagues could not pursue engineering, but, to continue and currently is a district engineer.
She told the participants that engineering courses were not difficult as being perceived, adding “it is one of the most enjoyable courses one could ever fathom.”
“You just need to be determined and focused; you can also build your future career with engineering no matter your gender that is the goal of WINE,” Mrs Mensah said.
The Manager of Gender and Social Inclusion at ECG, Ms Rosemond Asamoah, also revealed a worrying gender disparity in the company, but, assured that, deliberate and conscious efforts were being made to bridge the gap.
“One of which such efforts is the WINE programme which seeks to introduce engineering to the female child at a younger age.” she stressed.
Meanwhile, sharing their expectations, participants believed that ECG WINE mentorship programme would spur girls to learn hard and also improve their studies in the sciences and engineering.
They, however, noted that many girls in Junior High School desired to study the sciences and engineering course, but, due to fear, they chose other courses.
“There are a few women engineers in the industry and so with this mentorship programme, our confidence has been boosted, and we are encouraged to learn hard to become engineers in future, help develop the industry for the growth of and development our country,” the participants added.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, TAKORADI
