Stakeholders in Ghana’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector have called for stronger mentorship, policy support and institutional collaboration to increase the participation of women in technical careers, as the country marked International Women’s Day 2026.
This, they said, would help bridge the persistent gender gap in technical education and create more opportunities for women to contribute meaningfully to national development through skilled trades and technical professions.
The call was made during a commemorative event organised in collaboration with the Ghana TVET Service which brought together representatives from government ministries, development partners, industry leaders, civil society organisations, educators and students.
The event, held on the theme, “Give to Gain: Empowering the next generation of female technicians,” highlighted the importance of investing in mentorship, skills development and institutional support systems to encourage more young women to pursue careers in male-dominated technical fields.
Delivering the keynote address, the President-elect of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), Dr Sophia Tijani, stressed the need for Ghana to prioritise skilled labour as part of efforts to accelerate national development.
She said countries such as Germany and China had achieved rapid development largely because of their investment in skilled labour and technical expertise.
Low female representation
Dr Tijani expressed concern about the low number of women in technical roles within Ghana’s engineering sector.
According to data she obtained from the Engineering Council of Ghana, only 39 technician engineers were registered last year and all were males, while 69 engineering craftsmen were registered, of which only 12 were females.
She also said the Ghana Institution of Engineering currently had 180 technicians registered, with only two females.
In the power sector, she said similar disparities existed.
“At the Volta River Authority where I work, we have 403 technicians and only 11 are females,” she said.
Importance of mentorship
Dr Tijani emphasised that mentorship was a critical tool for empowering young women entering technical professions.
According to her, mentorship helps bridge the gap between potential and opportunity, enabling young women to build confidence and navigate professional challenges.
“When a young woman sees someone who has walked the path before, she begins to believe in the journey.
When she receives guidance and encouragement, her confidence grows,” she said.
She, however, stressed that mentorship required commitment from both mentors and mentees.
“As mentors, we must be willing to give our time.
But mentees must also be hungry and ready to be mentored,” she said.
Gender gaps in TVET
The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor for the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) EMPLOY Project, Millicent Okai-Gyekye, also highlighted persistent gender gaps in Ghana’s TVET sector.
She said statistics from the Ghana TVET Service indicated that young women’s participation in TVET remained low.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh