The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa says despite the push for gender equality in modern societies, there is still a seeming imbalance as well as prejudice or stereotypes being perpetrated either consciously or unconsciously in military institutions worldwide against women.

As a largely males dominated institution, he agreed that there existing biases have over the years hindered the interest and opportunities for women.  

According to him, gender mainstreaming is one key to achieving the right balance in the day-to-day decision, operations and activities of the armed forces

However, he said the United Nations Peacekeeping has set a target of recruiting 15% women as military observers and staff officers has been met by GAF.

The CDS said this at the Armed Forces’ maiden edition of a high-level gender conference held today in Accra.

“In the area of peacekeeping, Ghana remains one of the few troop contributing countries to deploy between 13 to15 per cent of female in peacekeeping missions around the world. Fifteen per cent is the UN target for 2028,” the CDS stressed.  

The revelation was to demonstrate how much effort that Armed Forces had invested into providing equal opportunities for both males and females in the military.

According to the CDS, GAF had been proactive with gender issues since day one after the country’s independence, as in 1958 it recruited its first woman into the service.

This effort was even built upon in 1965, for which the country became the first country in the sub-region to train female pilots.

Continuously, GAF is making strides in increasing the number of women in the military and as a result, female intake has increased approximately to 17 per cent.

The conference held under the theme “Guaranteeing equal opportunities in the Ghana Forces” was proudly told by Lt Gen. Akwa that for the first time in the country’s history, two females – Constance Edjeani and Felicia Twum Barima- have been promoted to Brigadier Generals rank.

“We have also recently (2018) commissioned five female officers into the infantry corps. In the ranks, a good number of females are employed in trades or capacities initially preserved for men such as Colour Ensigns and their related Colour Escorts, as Physical Training Instructors, attending drill and duties courses and as Sergeant Majors or service equivalents among others,” he stated.

He hoped that the high-level gender conference will help officers gathered at the conference commit to enhancing equal opportunities for all personnel.

Commander Veronica Adzo Arhin, Gender Policy Advisor to the CDS, said her office is committed to closing the gaps created through deliberate policies.

Resources persons for the conference were Dr Fiifi Edu-Afful, Mrs Levinia Addae-Mensah and Mrs Joana Osei-Tutu.

By Akutu Dede Adimer