By Joyce Danso, GNA
Accra, May 13, GNA – Mr Daniel Fenyi, the Head of Public Relations at the Ghana Education Service, has intensified advocacy for the replacement of the role of ‘Women’s Commissioner’ with ‘Gender Commissioner’ across tertiary institutions.
He said the proposed change would reflect a more comprehensive and contemporary understanding of representation, inclusion, and advocacy within student governance structures.
In a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency, Mr Fenyi said the term “Women’s Commissioner” emerged at a time when the urgent priority was to create space for women’s voices within male-dominated institutional structures.
“It served a necessary purpose when gender discourse largely focused on addressing systemic disadvantages faced by women,” he said.
However, he noted that gender-related challenges had evolved into broader societal concerns, many of which involved men as key actors, making inclusivity essential.
Mr Fenyi explained that the title “Gender Commissioner” better captured this inclusivity, as issues affecting women were often shaped by the actions and inactions of men, requiring advocacy efforts that extend beyond women alone.
“Educating and engaging men becomes equally important, and a gender-focused office is better suited to handle this complexity,” he said.
He cited Ghana’s policy direction as evidence of that conceptual shift, noting that the transition from the former Ministry of Women and Children Affairs to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection reflected a deliberate reframing of policy priorities.
The change recognised that women’s issues were best addressed within a broader gender framework that considered social dynamics, power relations, and systemic inequalities, Mr Fenyi said.
He argued that it was inconsistent with tertiary institutions, regarded as centres of intellectual leadership and progressive thought, to lag in adopting the framework.
“SRC structures should reflect national and global developments, not remain tied to outdated perspectives,” he stated.
He maintained that renaming the portfolio would not weaken attention to women’s welfare but rather strengthen it by situating women’s issues within a broader analytical framework capable of producing more effective interventions.
“Challenges such as harassment, unequal access to opportunities, exploitation, sex-for-grades, sex-for-jobs, and representation can be tackled more holistically under a gender-focused office, since they are usually facilitated by the opposite gender,” he said.
Mr Fenyi further explained that a “Gender Commissioner” would be better positioned to address intersecting student issues, including masculinity, mental health, sexual harassment, gender-based violence, and inclusivity.
“These are systemic concerns that extend beyond women alone and require a wider, more inclusive lens,” he added.
He also stressed the symbolic importance of the proposed change, saying governance roles communicate institutional values and direction.
“Retaining the title ‘Women’s Commissioner’ may unintentionally signal a limited or outdated understanding of gender advocacy, whereas adopting ‘Gender Commissioner’ reflects awareness and alignment with contemporary discourse,” he said.
Mr Fenyi acknowledged concerns that broadening the scope could dilute focus on women’s issues but described such fears as largely misplaced.
“A gender-focused approach does not erase women’s concerns; instead, it strengthens the foundation for addressing them by recognising the broader ecosystem in which they exist,” he added.
He described the proposed transition from Women’s Commissioner to Gender Commissioner as both a practical and ideological step forward.
“It aligns student governance with national policy direction, reflects current academic and social thinking, and positions SRCs as forward-looking bodies committed to inclusive and effective representation,” he said.
“The time for this change is now.”
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe