IWD: Australian High Commissioner Calls For Elimination Of Gender Disparity In Mining Sector

IWD: Australian High Commissioner Calls For Elimination Of Gender Disparity In Mining Sector

As the world marks the 2023 edition of International Women’s Day, the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Her Excellency Berenice Owen-Jones has emphasized the need for the elimination of all forms of gender disparities in the mining industry.

The High Commissioner made this call at the Breakfast Meeting organized by the High Commission in partnership with Women in Mining Ghana to mark the day.

Held under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and Technology For Gender Equality” Her Excellency Owen Jones reflected that digitization and technology can be used as tools to empower women and girls in all sectors including the mining sector.

She explained that women are involved in almost all the operations of the mining sector making about 40 to 50 percent of Africa’s total workforce in small-scale mining. However, the figure is significantly reduced in the large-scale sector. She revealed the participation of women in large-scale mining worldwide is about 5 to 15 percent.

She, therefore, stressed the need for the utilization of innovation and technology to remove all forms of barriers resulting in the disparity in the mining sector against women.

Addressing the gathering, she said, “women work across the full spectrum of mining operations. They are engineers, geologists, academics, government officials and senior executives. Many women are also manual labourers and play an essential role in artisanal and small-scale mining. In fact, women comprise 40 to 50 percent of Africa’s total workforce in this subsector. However, large-scale mining remains of the most male-dominated industries. …. some estimate that women make up approximately 5 to 15 percent of workers in large scale-scale mining..”

“This year’s IWD theme provides us with an opportunity to reflect on how digital age can contribute to the elimination of all forms of disparity and inequality – including in mining. This could be through the development of new mining technologies, the delivery of online training and much more,” Her Excellency noted.

Speaking to the media after the event, the President of Women In Mining Ghana, Dr. Georgette Barnes Sakyi-Addo also emphasized on the need for women in the mining space to be abreast with new trends and technology. This, she believes will help bridge the gender disparity gap in the industry.

“The theme about innovation and technology for gender equality is extremely important for Women In Mining. The industry is moving towards automation and digitization. The world itself is moving towards solving problems with technology and data. There is the need for us to gain skills and be aware of new trends in our space because it offers us the opportunity to change the narrative to get more women onboard,” she noted.

Dr. Yvonne Sena Akosua Loh, a hydrogeologist from the University of Ghana and the chairperson for Women In Mining Mentorship Program also revealed some of the challenges women are facing in the male-dominated industry. She further urged women in the industry to also acquire managerial skills in addition to the technical skills so that they can also rise in the industry.

“I will urge the women out there who find themselves in this field when they are going out there to work, must make themselves available so you can acquire the requisite skills and be on top of your job so you don’t play second fiddle. Take up managerial courses so that you can also rise. Apart from long service you also need skills in management,” the senior lecturer admonished.

Her Excellency Berenice Owen-Jones further stated that the Australian High Commission will continue to partner Women In Mining to implement practical measures that will eliminate the barriers women are facing in the mining industry.

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