The Greater Accra Regional Director of Education, Stephen Abamfo has called for sustained educational efforts from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on their campaign to get more females enrolled into combat support units of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The campaign under the Elsie Initiative Fund supports increased participation of women in United Nations peacekeeping missions.
The Women, Youth, Peace and Security Institute (WYPSI) at the KAIPTC and GAF launched a national schools’ sensitization campaign in June 2023 to address misconceptions about women in the military and showcase the diverse career paths available.
Specifically targeted at senior high school students, it aimed to sensitize young women about career opportunities in the Ghana Armed Forces, with a specific focus on combat and combat support roles.
Mr. Abamfo during a meeting with a team from WYPSI-KAIPTC and GAF led by Gender Advisor Group Capt. Theodora Agornyo, welcomed the initiative’s focus on attracting women to join the armed forces and equipping them for leadership roles.
“We are excited about this initiative that tackles the information gap young people face when choosing a career path as well as the emphasis the project is laying on the need for young women especially understanding the value of higher education as crucial in this process,” Mr. Abamfo said.
The WYPSI-KAIPTC and GAF are currently undertaking sensitization activities in selected second cycle schools across Ghana as part of activities earmarked for the campaign. The team have visited schools in the Western, Eastern, Central, Volta, Oti, Ashanti, Bono and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana. The sensitization drive will include second cycle schools in other regions of Ghana in the coming weeks.