As a result, a two-day conference had opened in Accra to provide opportunities to Female Employee Associations in the sector to network, exchange knowledge and harness experiences for best practices.

The conference, on the theme: "Women in Energy: Positioning for the Future," would enable them to strategise towards advancing gender equality and social inclusion in Ghana's power utilities industry.

MiDA, through the conference, aimed at promoting leadership by institutionalising gender inclusion in Ghana's energy sector and fulfilling Sustainable Development Goals 7 on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

It also aims at fulfilling SDG 10, on reducing inequality within and among countries.

Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, the Chief Executive Officer of MiDA, said organisations could improve performance and maximise the social impact of investments if gender and social inclusion issues were mainstreamed in policies, systems and practices.

He said under the Power Compact, an imperative of the "Modernising Utility Operations Activity," which forms part of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Financial and Operational Turnaround Project, stresses some deliverables as indicators for the success of the activity.

These include institutionalising gender responses to support gender auditing, development of a gender policy at ECG and supporting activities for strengthening its institutional capacity to implement a Gender Policy.

They are also to enhance the capacity of Female Employee Associations, through knowledge sharing, networking and the development of internships and mentoring to university students in Science and Technology, particularly women.

To achieve this, Mr Eson-Benjamin said they had started with the Gender Auditing and the development of a Gender Policy in ECG.

"We hope other institutions in the Power Sector associated with the Ghana Power Compact and eventually the entire Energy Sector will follow ECG's footsteps."

Mrs Cynthia Morrison, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the theme was apt as there was a strong affirmation and tireless efforts by world leaders to provide sustainable and renewable energy.

"It is very crucial for us not to relent on our roles in creating a platform and community for promoting education, mentorship, growth, and opportunities for women advancing careers in the energy sector," she said.

Mrs Morrison said women could not position themselves for the future if they were not actively involved in decision-making, hence the Ministry was working assiduously to get the Affirmative Action Bill passed.

When passed, the Bill would help increase women's representation and active participation in decision-making at all levels to advance, change and create a stronger action in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment.

She encouraged participants to 'give birth' to innovations and tactics that would strategically position them to meaningfully contribute to the provision of reliable and renewable energy.

"Our decision here should also focus on our rural women who are at the detriment of climate change due to their reliance and use of unsustainable and nonrenewable energy," she advised. 

Mrs Eunice Britwum, the Acting Convener for Women in Energy Platform, Ghana, recommended that women in the sector should work smartly, with ambition, passion and discipline to push the agenda forward. 

She suggested that organisations enhanced their commitment to promoting women leaders and called on them (women) to prepare themselves for those positions to influence decision-making to effect the desired change.