The Office of the Head of Civil Service (OHCS) has intensified its push for gender equality within government institutions by calling on Gender Desk Officers to actively integrate gender perspectives into all aspects of their work.
Speaking at a sensitisation workshop in Accra, Mr. Benedict Boadi, a Chief Management Analyst at the OHCS, stressed that achieving gender equity within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) required sustained commitment, strong leadership, and deliberate action from all stakeholders.
“Gender Desk Officers play a critical role in mainstreaming gender considerations into the operations of their respective institutions,” Boadi noted. “This includes serving as liaisons between organisations and coordinating bodies, organising training programmes, collecting gender-related data, and preparing regular progress reports.”
The workshop, which focused on the Ghana Civil Service Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Gender Desk Officers, sought to equip officers with the skills needed to effectively incorporate gender perspectives into policy planning and implementation.
Dr. Evans Aggrey-Darkoh, Chief Director and Head of the Civil Service, announced that from June, directors across the civil service will undergo training to strengthen their capacity for implementing gender mainstreaming activities.
“An action plan must be doable, achievable, and realistic,” he said, urging institutions to adopt transparent and practical strategies for gender equality.
He added that the SOPs, once validated, would serve as a vital framework for ensuring consistent gender mainstreaming across all MDAs.
The event also featured contributions from key partners like Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) Ghana. Ms. Juliet A. Amoah, Country Director of EPL, described the SOPs as a critical step towards creating an inclusive and equitable public sector.
“Through our ‘Women on the Rise’ project, funded by Co-Impact, we aim to break down systemic barriers and mentor emerging female leaders within the civil service,” Amoah stated.
She emphasised that equipping civil servants with the right knowledge and tools would drive broader institutional change, ensuring that government programmes and budgets effectively address the needs of all citizens, particularly the most marginalised.
Mrs. Jane Afful, Principal Research Officer at the OHCS, reinforced the importance of data collection in achieving gender equality, noting that accurate and verifiable information is essential for informed decision-making, budget allocation, and identifying gender gaps.
“Gender mainstreaming is about more than just checking a box. It’s a strategy aimed at eliminating the perpetuation of inequality and ensuring that the needs of both men and women are considered at all stages of policy and programme development,” Mrs. Afful concluded.
The workshop is part of a broader effort by the OHCS to promote gender equity, improve transparency, and enhance the delivery of public services across Ghana’s civil service.
