The International Women’s Day is celebrated on 8th March annually to honour the achievements of women. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness about the struggles women go through and to advocate for gender equality to create a more inclusive and equitable world for everyone.

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2023, the Ghana Society for Education Technology held a webinar to discuss Strategies on Promoting Gender Equality in Technology Use and Access. The panel consisted of experts from diverse sectors namely the media, the business and the tech sectors and were in the persons of Mr Kingsley Obeng-Kyereh, Mrs Selasi Dzikunu and Mr Kwabena Offei-Kwadey Nkrumah respectively.

One major point raised was the significance of mentorship. The panelists emphasized that women in tech need role models and mentors who can guide and support them in their careers. This can be achieved by creating mentorship programs where senior women in the tech industry can guide and advise younger women. Mentors should also be approachable and easy accessible. Mentorship programs can provide opportunities for networking and sharing of experiences, which can be beneficial for career advancement.

Another point that was highlighted was the importance of providing access to education and training. The panelists stressed that women in STEM need access to quality education and training to be able to compete in the STEM industry. This can be achieved by teaching STEM related courses earlier in the education ladder so as to arouse the interest of more females and steer them towards picking up careers in STEM.

Another point worth mentioning was addressing the sexualization of women in the tech space. The panelists emphasized that women in tech are often subjected to sexism and harassment, which can lead to a toxic work environment. To address this issue, companies need to have policies in place to prevent and address sexual harassment. This can be achieved by creating safe spaces where women can report incidents of harassment and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.

By implementing these strategies, we can create a more inclusive and diverse STEM industry where women can thrive and succeed. This will go a long way to create more innovative solutions, as diverse teams bring different perspectives and ideas to the table.