“According to the United Nations Development Program report in 2007, across the world, women and girls spend from 2-20 or more hours a week collecting fuelwood and other traditional energy sources”. Ghana is not immune to this declaration as the 2010 National Energy policy mentioned that a great percentage of Ghanaians are rural dwellers and statistics show that a great section of the population, predominantly women, lack access to electricity and rely hugely on biomass for cooking. It also mentioned women to be one of the most important actors in the energy sector specifically due to their contact, use and management of energy and energy services. As a result of this, women tend to bear harsh and negative impact on their health as a result of using wood-fuel as the dominant energy source for their household energy needs. The limited involvement and capacity of women in the planning and management of energy services as well as in management positions in the Energy Sector were some of the challenges outlined. The policy goal was to mainstream gender in the Energy Sector. However, as at 2018, a study on gender representation in the petroleum sector by energy policy NGO, Ghana Oil and Gas for Inclusive Growth (GOGIG) stated that, there were only 3 female chairs on 33 boards surveyed; with only 5 of those boards having more than 1 woman represented. So, the question of whether the policy of equity and gender balance in the energy sector is a reality or mirage still stands unanswered.
The inception of Women In Energy Ghana is to facilitate inclusive development by ensuring visible women leadership and participation.
Source
Acheampong, J. (2020). Women must challenge themselves to take up leadership roles- Panelists at launch of Women In Energy Ghana. Graphic Business News. Graphics Communication Group Ltd. Retrieved from:
Jessica Acheampong, "WOMEN IN ENERGY", contributed by Barbara Ackun, The Energy Rights Project, Platform for Experimental Collaborative Ethnography, last modified 11 June 2020, accessed 5 May 2024. https://energyrights.info/content/women-energy
Critical Commentary
“According to the United Nations Development Program report in 2007, across the world, women and girls spend from 2-20 or more hours a week collecting fuelwood and other traditional energy sources”. Ghana is not immune to this declaration as the 2010 National Energy policy mentioned that a great percentage of Ghanaians are rural dwellers and statistics show that a great section of the population, predominantly women, lack access to electricity and rely hugely on biomass for cooking. It also mentioned women to be one of the most important actors in the energy sector specifically due to their contact, use and management of energy and energy services. As a result of this, women tend to bear harsh and negative impact on their health as a result of using wood-fuel as the dominant energy source for their household energy needs. The limited involvement and capacity of women in the planning and management of energy services as well as in management positions in the Energy Sector were some of the challenges outlined. The policy goal was to mainstream gender in the Energy Sector. However, as at 2018, a study on gender representation in the petroleum sector by energy policy NGO, Ghana Oil and Gas for Inclusive Growth (GOGIG) stated that, there were only 3 female chairs on 33 boards surveyed; with only 5 of those boards having more than 1 woman represented. So, the question of whether the policy of equity and gender balance in the energy sector is a reality or mirage still stands unanswered.
The inception of Women In Energy Ghana is to facilitate inclusive development by ensuring visible women leadership and participation.