Kofi Ampeah Woode
In seeking to correct imbalance in policy implementation, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), under the Danish Maritime Security Programme (DMSP), has drawn on the principles of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, to filter guiding principles for promoting women participation in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG).
Launching the set of guiding principles, which is termed Code of Practice for Women in the Maritime Domain in Ghana, on Tuesday 10 September 2024, the Ambassador of Denmark to Ghana – His Excellency (HE) Tom Norring said, despite progress made by the UNSCR 1325, bridging the gap between policy and implementation remains a challenge in the GoG.
The Ambassador further said the Code of practice aims to foster an environment that ensures the protection of women in the maritime sector, while promoting their meaningful participation in maritime security and governance, and provides a framework to address policy gaps, and advance gender equality, peace, and security within the maritime sector.
Central to the development of the document, HE Norring said, is the recognition that maritime security is not solely a men’s issue, but a human one, and therefore, women’s participation is essential, not only as a matter of equality, but also because it has a direct impact on the effectiveness and success of maritime security operations.
He assured of his country’s continued support of KAIPTC and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in building the capacity of senior military and civilian maritime law enforcement officers, to advocate for women’s participation in the sector, and to support the implementation of relevant frameworks on this agenda.
Additional to the Code of Practice, Mr Norring said Denmark is collaborating with the UNODC to establish a regional network of maritime professionals, both governmental and non-governmental, with a focus on advancing the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda.
Providing exciting statistics of inroads made by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on its inclusivity agenda, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Ghana Navy – Rear Admiral (R/Adm) Issah Adam Yakubu said from national navies, through to ports and maritime administration agencies and the fishing industry, women face multiple challenging roles, representation and participation in decision making.
A 2021 report of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Member States distribution of women working in the maritime industry said, women account for 29% of the overall workforce in the general industry, and 20% of the workforce of national maritime authorities, Admiral Yakubu cited.
Search and rescue teams in national maritime authorities account for 10%, female diplomats is 33%, training staff is 30%, seafarers is 2% of the crewing workforce, while in ship owning companies, they make up 34% of the workforce, Ghana’s Naval Commander said.
Within the Blue Economy, women face social, cultural and economic obstacles, such as lack of access to landownership, and of capital and subsidies dedicated for women to enable them grow and expand activities, spaces for aquaculture and tourism, and lack of opportunities, generally, he added.
On the contrary, subsidies, material and logistical support, tax reductions, professional training and financial assistance for the industrial fishing sector are largely targeted at fishermen, vessel owners and fishery managers, the majority of whom are men, he said.
He further stated that although UNSCR 1325 urges all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all aspects of peace and security, the WPS Agenda does not mention maritime security, however, GAF has improved the numbers and agency of women in that respect.
Currently, he stated, there are 1009 female personnel in the Ghana Navy in particular, representing 22%, which far exceeds the GAF average of 15%, cutting across all trade categories including combat, engineering, logistics and administration roles, with the first female Naval Officer enlisted in 1996 – Faustina Boakyewaa Anokye – now a Commodore (equivalent to 1-Star General).
On hurdles, the CNS said the unavoidable prolonged absence of women when they start family life, is a barrier to contend with, and that per the GN’s assessment, any percentage of women beyond 30% would have adverse effects on Operational Efficiency, however, with the advent of improved technology and transformations, such barriers would be removed.
He concluded that the unveiled Maritime Code of Practice is a commitment to change, a beacon guiding all practitioners towards a future where women are empowered to also stand at the helm, to navigate through storms, and lead with strength and wisdom.
The Commandant, KAIPTC – Major General (Maj Gen) Richard Addo Gyane, in his welcome address said, the event is the last in a series of dissemination and launch of the Maritime Code of Practice, which has already been done in Cameroun, Congo Brazzaville, Nigeria, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal.
The Commandant further said that the set of guiding principles should guide decision-makers in the maritime domain, to promote and preserve the welfare and advancement of women in the maritime domain, especially in the GoG.
The challenges in the GoG often impact coastal communities and diverse professions in the maritime domain disproportionately, yet the extent to which women and men contribute to the solutions to these problems is not consistently mirrored in policy implementation, Maj Gen RA Gyane stated.
He said KAIPTC, contextualizing its mandates by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), liaises with state actors, regional and international multilateral organizations, to deliver professional capacity development training courses, knowledge products by way of research, and orchestrates dialogues among critical stakeholders in Africa and the rest of the world.
General Gyane said the Code of Practice covers issues such as Gender Equality and Empowerment, Equal Participation, Human Rights and Dignity, Diversity and Inclusion, Conflict Sensitivity, Local Ownership and Sustainability and Cultural Sensitivity, and produces a model policy statement on women practitioners in the maritime security environment, to be used by maritime security organisations, hopefully.
Speaking on behalf of Ghana’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mrs Maame Esi Bordah Quayson said, the sea is a precious resource, serving as a source of food, employment, and economic growth for millions of Ghanaians, remaining a critical contributor to the national economy, offering jobs, ensuring food security, and supporting countless communities across coastal areas.
She said, women are the backbone of coastal communities, yet their contributions and leadership in maritime security have not been adequately recognized, and by promoting the active participation of women, especially in addressing maritime threats through the Code of Practice, national security apparatus, as well as communities, are strengthened.
Mrs Irene Messiba – Director, Planning, Programming, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ministry of Transport, taking her turn said, the GoG is not just a vital lifeline, but also the backbone of economies, connecting the states to the world, facilitating trade, providing jobs, and contributing to national security.
She continued to say that civil institutions, such as the Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and Ghana Shippers Authority play indispensable roles in ensuring that Ghana’s maritime infrastructure remains robust, safe, secure, and efficient, with the Code offering practical steps to ensure that women are actively supported and empowered.
The underrepresentation of women in the maritime domain is not just an issue of fairness, but a challenge to the effectiveness of maritime governance, for gender diversity brings new perspectives, skills and innovative approaches to problem-solving, and that by limiting opportunities for women, the potential for maritime security to evolve and adapt to the challenges are also limited, she said.
The Director, Faculty for Academic Affairs and Research (FAAR), KAIPTC – Dr Emma Birikorang, presenting an overview of the Code of Practice for Women in the GoG domain, outlined 15 Principles of the code as the following;
1) Gender Equality and Empowerment; 2) Equal Participation; 3) Human Rights and Dignity; 4) Diversity and Inclusion; 5) Amplification of Women’s Presence and Influence; 6) Confidentiality and Safety; 7) Conflict Sensitivity; 8) Local Ownership and Sustainability; 9) Accountability and Transparency; 10) Cultural Sensitivity;
The rest are; 11) Prevention and Mitigation of Gender-Based Violence; 12) Creating Safe and Supportive Working Environments; 13) Capacity Building and Empowerment; 14) Collaborative Partnership; and 15) Advocacy and Representation.
By Kofi Ampeah-Woode
