By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra Dec. 20, GNA – Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, says that women’s participation in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) could be a catalyst to help spur economic growth.
She said such growth would be achieved if women, particularly the younger ones, were given equal opportunities and representations by all, adding that it would promote gender equality.
“We can all do a few things to improve the participation of our young ladies and working women in STEM. Let’s step up and do a little more for the young girls,” Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said.
She said this at the launch of Seats For Ladies in STEM (S4LIS) initiative on the theme: “Bridging the Gender Gap in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics in Ghana.”
The initiative which had been birthed by the Chamber of Telecommunications, telcos, partners from telecommunications value chain and supported by the Ministry, sought to provide support systems for the women who ventured into STEM.
The Minister said research had shown that: “Increasing women’s participation in STEM careers has the power to close the gender gap and boost women’s cumulative earnings up to about US$ 300 billion over the next ten years.”
She said the Ministry, as part of accelerating STEM, had added a mentorship component to its Girls in Information, Communication Technology (ICT) programme since 2018.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said the S4LIS initiative should identify and encourage the young ladies to take up careers in the STEM fields.
“Provide hands-on experience for them and introduce them to the tools they need to engage in this sector. Once we introduce them, they can do it, and let’s help them have a growth mindset,” she added.
Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, said the initiative sought to attain gender parity in the STEM ecosystem for the next five years.
“We will ensure that we catch them young by educating and attracting them through the Girls in ICT and Coding initiatives,” he said.
Dr Ashigbey said that in improving the gender distribution, more ladies would be given opportunities in internship, national services, recruitment and improve mentorship schemes through partners across the country.
That would be done with participating partners like the tertiary institutions, National Service Scheme and prominent women leaders who would be Ambassadors of the initiative.
The Seat for Ladies in STEM initiative has a portal and young ladies and women who want to advance their STEM career could register at s4lis.com.
GNA