Accra, June 25, GNA – The International Development Research Centre has identified gender equality as a key element in the advancement of the development debate.
This has been demonstrated by several research works proving that gender relations mediate the process of development.
Mr Ambrose Dery, the Minister of the Interior, said this in a speech read on his behalf at the maiden workshop on Gender and Development by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in Accra.
He said the analyses of stabilisation and structural-adjustment policies by researchers showed that gender inequalities had an impact on the attainment of macroeconomic objectives.
The workshop is to build the capacity of the Management of GIS to better analyse and understand gender issues and properly integrate gender interests and needs into policies and programmes of the Service.
It was on the theme: « Integrating Gender Perspective and Responsive Action for the Executive Level of the GIS, » and will provide the Management with knowledge on the concept of gender and its relevance to the work of GIS.
The GIS established a Gender Mainstreaming Unit (GMU) in June 2019 to serve as a guide in bridging the identified gender gaps in the Service.
The initiative is part of the Strengthening Border Security in Ghana (SBS Ghana) project, being funded by European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), in coordination with the GIS.
Mr Dery said: « Gender mainstreaming requires more than the creation of opportunities for officers to benefit, it also requires the creation of a conducive environment for both men and women in the Service to seize those opportunities. »
« This implies equal access to opportunities for men and women. Development in general requires good governments that give men and women equal voices in decision-making and policy implementation.
Such is what I see in the Ghana Immigration Service…bearing in mind the perspective that gender matters in the development of the Service at all times. »
« I will endorse the course and provide the enabling environment to support the Comptroller-General, Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, in achieving this agenda.”
He said he endorsed the enhancement of women’s consciousness and abilities, and challenged the women to examine their situations and act to correct their disadvantaged positions in the Service.
Mr Dery, therefore, entreated the other security agencies under the Ministry to emulate the example of the GIS.
« I urge Management members to take advantage of this capacity building programme. I have no doubt that the capacity of Management members would be built at the end of the day, making members capable of effectively translating the gender issues into policies, programmes and activities of the Services, » the Minister said.
He acknowledged the support of the European Union and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development towards the development of the Service, and commended the officers for the efforts in organising the programme.
Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, said gender was a vital element in development as it was a way of looking at how social norms and power structures impacted the lives and opportunities available to different groups of women and men.
« Understanding that men and women, boys and girls experience the world differently and face different barriers in accessing services, economic resources and opportunities helps to formulate interventions that target and meet their specific needs, » he said.
Mr Takyi said considering the inevitable dynamics of migration, it was necessary for the GIS to be more receptive and inclusive towards women and mainstream gender into its operational activities to encourage participation and representation at the workplace and other decision-making processes.
He noted that gender inclusiveness in development agendas could be the key for the success of the world’s economies, most especially Africa, because women made up the most of the world’s population.
« You all will agree with me that development is moving very fast on the continent as statistics and predictions of UN-Habitat have shown. The wide spread understanding of gender and development in the various levels of decision-making and policy formulation is therefore timely. »
He expressed appreciation to the continuous support of the EU and ICMPD towards the development of the Service.
Ms Sarah Adwoa Sarfo, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in a speech read on her behalf, said the Ministry was implementing a Strategic Plan to redefine its strategic direction, policy goals, objectives and strategies to ensure the full realisation of its mandate.
The plan, she said, would serve as a guide to align the Ministry’s operation with the National Development Policy Framework, which was consistent with international obligations and national development goals.
She said the development of the Gender National Policy, which sought to regulate and mainstream gender concerns in all sectors, would encourage more institutions to develop their sector specific gender policies including the security sector.
Ms Sarfo said the enactment of the Affirmative Action Law, Intestate Succession Law, and the Domestic Workers Regulation Law would strengthen the legal framework systems to reduce the gender gap in all sectors of the economy.
