Australia launches women in leadership network in Ghana

Madam Joanna Adamson, Australian High Commissioner, on Tuesday launched the Ghana Chapter of the Australian Awards Women in Leadership Network in Accra.

The Network encourages women to apply for Australian Government Scholarships and support successful candidates to pursue post-graduate studies in Australia.

She said the launch was part of an African-wide approach. So far 90 women from 20 African countries including eight from Ghana had become part of the network. Madam Adamson said gender equality is at the heart of Australia development efforts in Africa.

She said Australia wants more women to be part of the Network to benefit from the scholarship in order to champion development issues in their countries.

The Network also provides catalyst for future women leaders to meet to discuss development issues facing African women and to share insight about career and business opportunities and challenges.

It also promotes equal participation by women and men in PhDs and Masters Scholarships and short courses under technical awards.

Madam Adamson said Ghana has benefited from nearly 150 awards since 2010 in the field of Agriculture, Mining, Health, Education and Public Sector Management. Forty per cent of the scholarship was awarded to women.

Ms Zabeta Moutafis, Head of Development Co-operation for West Africa at the Australian International Development Agency said the programme is focused in areas where Australia can make a difference and “where our resources can be most effective”.

She said Australia had deepened and broaden its engagement in the West African sub-region and had focused its assistance on where Australia possessed experience to advance the Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable economic development in line with partner government priorities.

Ms Moutafis said Ghana is an obvious partner for Australia in the field of mining with its significant mineral and energy potential; continued commitment to reforms, strong governance environment and the presence of Australian resource companies.