‘Address gender concerns in oil and gas sector’
Gender activists have called on operators in the oil and gas sector to incorporate gender concerns and issues relating to other socially excluded groups in the operations of the industry.
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According to them, although there was a local content law guiding the operations of the sector, they were still of the view that existing problems of gender and other social imbalances in the country would be compounded if policy and related legislative frameworks remained gender insensitive.
They said since the socio-economic, cultural and especially environmental challenges induced by oil and gas exploration and production impacted differently on women and men, it was necessary to address women’s needs extensively by empowering them with capacities they needed to engage in the discourse centred around their long-term development.
According to Ms Amba Mensah Forson of the Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), although the activities of these industries negatively impacted on the livelihoods of especially women and other socially excluded groups such as the physically challenged, their voices and representation were still unheard or were at best, neglected.
Evaluation meeting
At an evaluation meeting held to mark the end of the implementation of a one-year project titled: “Women’s agency strengthened to demand accountability, equity and transparency from industry actors for improved livelihoods,” it came to light that the oil and gas sector currently focused on scientific, technical and economic issues, losing sight of the critical social and gender concerns.
The project, which was undertaken by NETRIGHT, in partnership with ABANTU for Development, the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF-Ghana) and the Federation of Women Lawyers in Ghana (FIDA Ghana), was sponsored by STAR Ghana.
The project was implemented at the national and district levels with Jomoro and Ellembelle selected among the six districts within the oil communities in the Western Region to benefit from it.
Project findings
A Project Officer at ABANTU, Ms Getrude Domfeh, who shared her organisation’s findings within the project period, said they observed that less women were employed in the sector, as there was no quota for women in the industry due to the nature of their work and expertise needed.
A representative from WiLDAF, Mr Frank Bodza, said his organisation, which worked in the Ellembelle district, trained women to take up leadership positions in the assembly, as well as established the Women Accountable Training Committee (WACOM), to demand accountability from duty bearers.
WiLDAF, he said, also organised gender budgeting trainings for the assembly members.
Ms Patricia Blankson Akakpo, who presented NETRIGHT’s findings with regard to the project, said they organised capacity training workshops for women in the districts, as well as analysed the Medium Term Development Plans (MTDPs) of the two district assemblies.
NETRIGHT, she said, also formed the Gender Advocacy Platform (GAP) which ‘organised a trainers’ workshop for women.
FIDA, which was represented by Ms Belquiisu Appiah, researched into the petroleum laws of the country and also engaged with stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, after which gender gaps found were published with recommendations.
Gender concerns
According to the Convenor of the Women’s Manifesto Coalition, Ms Hamida Harrison, the different groups of women and men, who either resided in oil and gas communities or depended directly on the operations of the sector, must have their needs and concerns addressed.
She was of the view that there were critical social and gender issues such as the inter-relationships between power, access to resources and the representation of women and men in the different sectors that should equally engage the attention of policy makers, the private sector and the civil society.
The participants, who were from the two project districts, commended the project organisers for their initiatives, saying it had helped to increase women’s participation in the work of the two districts.
Writer's email: rebecca.quaicoe-duho@graphic.com.gh