The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will receive funding of $3.7 million over three years to substantially increase the number of military women in peacekeeping missions, and to transform the GAF to be more gender-inclusive.
The funding is under the Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace Operations (EIF).
As the 7th highest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping, Ghana currently deploys 2,760 uniformed personnel, among which 15.6 percent are women.
With the EIF grant, Ghana will increase its contribution of military women by deploying a Gender-Strong Unit (GSU), a military battalion with substantial representation of women overall including in command positions, to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for three years and beyond.
Gender equality
A statement from the EIF quoted GAF’s Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, saying the inclusion of women at all levels of peace operations, through promotion of gender equality and awareness creation, is a clear and present reality, for the success of complex and multidimensional peace operations.
“The approval of this will further enhance our pre-deployment preparations and deployment of female soldiers. It will also go a long way to improve our gender awareness and equality through targeted training and national awareness,” he added.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Charles Abani, also commended Ghana’s role as the top contributor of uniformed women in military contingents to UN missions and the project as an important milestone.
“The EIF’s support will enable the GAF to continue transforming their institutional culture through an ongoing commitment to gender equality. We are pleased to know the GAF is committed to ensuring that the project’s impact is long-lasting and is dedicated to the proper preparation of their forces prior to deployment,” he said.
“The UN in Ghana welcomes Partners’ support, such as the EIF, which will render GAF’s contributions more efficient. The envisaged construction of dedicated women’s accommodation will enhance the positive strides the GAF is already taking to recruit, train and retain women in its armed forces and peacekeeping,” he added.
The UN Women’s Regional Director, Ms. Oulimata Sarr, also commended Ghana’s efforts in incorporating and institutionalising gender perspectives.
“We are pleased to see that this important project, funded by the Elsie Initiative Fund, will further contribute to the implementation of GHANAP 2020-2025, by supporting women’s participation at all levels in peacekeeping,” she was quoted saying.
What to expect
Through the EIF-funded project, Ghana will address two of the most challenging barriers to women’s meaningful participation that were identified in a barrier assessment conducted in partnership with DCAF.
Specifically, the GAF will partner with the Women Peace and Security Institute of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre to launch a nationwide campaign to address gender stereotypes and promote the recruitment and integration of women in leadership and combat roles.
Through visits to Ghana’s 16 regional areas, the GAF will also conduct outreach activities to encourage young women in secondary and tertiary schools to be enlisted.
About EIF
The EIF, a UN trust fund hosted by UN Women, supports the sustainable deployment and meaningful participation of uniformed women peacekeepers by providing financial assistance and incentives.
Established by the UN, Canada, and member states in 2019, the EIF aims to accelerate progress toward the United Nation’s gender targets in line with Security Council resolutions and the UN Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy 2018-2028.
The EIF is funded by contributions from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom.
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