By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, Oct. 25, GNA – The Women in Engineering (WinE) wing of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is embarking on a nationwide drive to demystify Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as a male preserve to inspire girls to pursue careers in that area.
The group spent their day with girls at the Ofankor Municipal Assembly Basic School, inspiring them to follow their foot steps into engineering.
The event was held at the premises of the School which is situated at the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly in the Central Region of Ghana, featured the donation of menstrual pads to support their menstrual health.
The event featured several activities, including a session on the career prospects of studying engineering, some medical professionals also took turns to teach the girls basic personal hygiene tips.
The outreach is an annual nationwide programme that has been running for seven years across various ECG regions, including Western, Ashanti, Central, and Accra, with the goal of potentially expanding it to twice a year.
Engineer Benedicta Mensah, Programmes Committee Chair for WiNE, ECG Chapter, identified the prevailing cultural myth that engineering is a male preserve as the major challenge deterring women.
“Growing up, that is why we have come to believe that engineering is a preserve of men. As women who are fortunate to become engineers, we have asked ourselves that what can we do to take out this perception?”
Engr. Mensah noted that due to the technological advancements in the engineering field, it had become more accessible, irrespective of one’s gender.
“Engineering was thought of to be very masculine, where you lift heavy things… but thank God with the advent of technology, big things have miniature components. So now, it is our brains that we are using. There is no male brain and a female brain. A brain is a brain,” she said.
She further reassured the pupils that mathematics, the bedrock of engineering, was not as difficult as perceived, noting that its principles were applied in everyday activities.
According to UNESCO, women represent only 35 per cent of all students enrolled in STEM-related fields of study globally.
The disparity widens in specific fields. In engineering, manufacturing, and construction, the female student enrollment is notably lower, often cited to be below 25 per cent.
While Ghana has made progress in general education parity, the transition of women into STEM careers remains low.
Data from Ghana’s National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) has indicated that gender gaps in performance and interest in mathematics and science begin to emerge at the upper primary and Junior High School levels.
Mrs. Perpetual Nyarko, Headteacher of the school, lauded the initiative, stating it would significantly benefit the students.
She said the donation of sanitary pads would help keep girls in school during their menses, complementing government efforts.
On the career guidance, the Headteacher noted that the session would help dismantle the fear of mathematics and science among female students.
“If they have seen models here, who have gone into that field and are making it, they can also follow suit,” she said.
GNA
25 Oct. 2025
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong