Some officials and participants in the training workshop in Accra

Standardised training on gender manual for GAF personnel underway

Pacome Emmanuel Damalie Oct - 09 - 2024 , 09:59

The Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra has commenced a specialised training for instructors and gender advisors from various military training schools across the country.

It aims to enhance gender inclusiveness and address the gender gap in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

Dubbed “Training of trainers on standardised gender training manual for GAF Training Schools,” it was organised by the centre, in collaboration with the Canadian High Commission to Ghana.

The two-week training of trainers’ series which commenced yesterday has brought together 60 instructors and gender advisors from the GAF.

Among topics being discussed are the effective use of comprehensive GAF gender manuals that had been developed to integrate gender in the training of GAF personnel.

The programme forms part of a bilateral partnership between Canada and GAF, which is being implemented by KAIPTC, under an Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations.

In attendance are the Commandant of KAIPTC, Major General Richard Addo-Gyane; Senior Liaison Officer at the Canadian High Commission in Ghana, Bertha Desmennu; Senior Gender Policy Advisor to the Chief of Defence Staff, Group Captain Theodora Agornyo; Senior Programme Officer for Women, Youth Peace and Security Initiative (WYPSI), Mrs Agnes Agbevadi, and Lieutenant Colonel Rhonda Matthews of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Beneficiaries

The Commandant of KAIPTC, Major General Addo-Gyane, explained that considerable strategic approaches to address gaps identified in the system birthed a project dubbed “Enhancing GAF capabilities to address barriers to women in peacekeeping” and the Elsie Initiative Project to develop standardised gender-sensitive training manual at all levels of training.

Beneficiaries include Recruit Training Schools, the Military Academy, those undertaking Basic NCOs and Young Officers’ Courses, as well as Sergeant Major Courses at the Senior Staff College.

“Integrating gender perspective into GAF training schools will, among others, give opportunity to new recruits to learn and appreciate the concepts of gender as they join GAF and run through the ranks to the top level where critical gender decisions are made to ensure inclusivity and promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment,” Major General Addo-Gyane said.

He expressed gratitude to the Canadian government for their continued support and commitment in promoting women, peace and security agenda in Africa, as well as staff of the KAIPTC, particularly those at the WYPSI for their dedication and support in the implementation of the Elsie Initiative Project.

Rationale

The Senior Liaison Officer at the Canadian High Commission in Ghana, Bertha Desmennu, said the training formed part of the Canadian government’s support to the country, which is one of the world’s major peacekeeping troop contributing countries.

It is also to increase its capacity for recruitment, training and deployment of women to UN peace operations.

She said having a diverse, gender-responsive peacekeeping force that modelled gender equality, increased operational effectiveness for peace, adding that having more women in Armed Forces and in peacekeeping operations made them better at what they did.

“We know that having women as part of peacekeeping contingents helps in building trust with local communities and enhances access to information that can be crucial in protecting civilians and peacekeepers alike.

“That is because women, men, boys and girls are affected differently by conflict and insecurity,” Ms Desmennu said.