The Ministry of Defence has organised a gender sensitisation workshop for staff as part of efforts to strengthen gender mainstreaming and promote an equitable and inclusive working environment. The workshop, held in collaboration with the Research Coordinating Unit of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, sought to deepen staff understanding of gender integration and enhance coordination across the Ministry.

Speaking at the workshop, the Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring, Budgeting and Evaluation of the Ministry, Madam Abena Ofosua Dankwa, said the initiative was designed to raise awareness of gender mainstreaming within a dynamic institution where both men and women must have equitable opportunities to contribute to national security policy and civil service excellence. She noted that the workshop also aimed to strengthen the Ministry’s capacity for inter and intra sectoral gender coordination to foster an effective and inclusive working environment.

The Director of the Research Coordinating Unit at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, Mr Benedict Boadi, took participants through practical frameworks for integrating gender considerations into the operations of public institutions. His presentation covered civil service culture, administrative equity and resource management, as well as institutional mechanisms to dismantle systemic barriers to career advancement. He further emphasised the importance of professional mentorship and coaching, workplace safety protocols and structured reporting channels between ministerial gender desks and central coordination units to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of gender-related policies.

The Head of the Gender Equity Committee at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Vera Karikari Bediako, delivered an in-depth presentation on the Affirmative Action Act, 2024 (Act 1121). She underscored the need to create workplaces free from discrimination and harassment, stressing the importance of promoting fairness, equal opportunities and respect for all employees.

An interactive question-and-answer session provided staff with the opportunity to seek clarification on gender mainstreaming, the provisions of the Affirmative Action Act and other gender-related concerns. The engagement deepened participants’ understanding of their roles in advancing gender equality and addressing workplace-related challenges.

The workshop reaffirmed the Ministry of Defence’s commitment to practical measures that promote gender integration, strengthen institutional coordination and build a professional working environment where all staff can contribute meaningfully to the Ministry’s mandate.