Speakers at a recently held MIASA Roundtable strongly called for addressing gender inequalities in academia, highlighting it as a critical priority. The roundtable, held at the J. H. Nketia Conference Hall of the Institute of African Studies, focused on increasing gender balance and inclusion.
It featured prominent female scholars who underscored the necessity of immediate, effective and sustainable approaches to support female academics. Discussions centered on promoting female academic leadership, tackling structural challenges and inequalities and leveraging pan-African networks to enhance female academic careers.
Some dignitaries at the roundtable
Delivering a speech in the stead of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mary B. Setrana, Director of the Centre for Migration Studies and International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Research Chair on Forced Displacement in West Africa, articulated the University’s commitment to gender equality.
She said “As a female scholar myself, a Director of a busy Centre and IDRC Research Chair on Forced Displacement in West Africa, I do relate to the issues of gender inequalities that have displaced many female academics, be it emotional, mental, or physical.”
Prof. Mary B. Setrana
Prof. Setrana detailed the significance of the roundtable in celebrating female scholars' achievements and identifying transformative solutions to gender inequalities in academia. She noted that the event aligns with the University of Ghana’s strategic focus on gender and diversity, which aims to create an environment of equal opportunity for all academics.
“The Vice-Chancellor believes this public roundtable is a great occasion to celebrate our achievements as female scholars, irrespective of our levels and positions and to identify and find transformative approaches to addressing academic inequalities. It is not a time to lament the challenges we face, but to encourage ourselves in promoting and supporting gender equality and an inclusive academic environment,” said Prof. Setrana.
In remarks delivered to open the session, Prof. Grace Diabah, the MIASA Co-Director (Ghana), highlighted MIASA's commitment to promoting women's scholarship with a special focus on the African continent.
Prof. Grace Diabah, the MIASA Co-Director (Ghana)
She mentioned MIASA's collaboration with its partners to organise an annual Female Academic Careers in Africa Coaching Workshop and a Public Roundtable, emphasising the importance of these initiatives in supporting and empowering female academics.
The event featured a panel of distinguished speakers, including Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo from the University of Ghana, Prof. Fatoumata Keita from the University for Social Sciences and Humanities in Bamako and Prof. Clementina Baptista de Jesus Furtado from the University of Cape Verde.
Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo laid emphasis on the need for universities to take deliberate steps to support female academics. She stated, “Institutions and older colleagues must be willing and ready to use their connections and networks to mentor and help brilliant and smart female early career academics to reach their fullest potentials through knowledge transfer and skills acquisition.” She also called for creating channels of communication and welfare groups to address gender issues and enhance participation in global research projects.
Panelists Prof. Akosua Adomako Ampofo (left) and Prof. Clementina Baptista de Jesus Furtado (middle) and Prof. Fatoumata Keita (right)
Prof. Fatoumata Keita, for her part, highlighted the critical necessity of leveraging Pan-African educational bodies to address gender inequalities in academia. She remarked, “We cannot continue to fight in silos. We need a collective effort with a unified voice to demand our chances from University Management and governments. Investing in Pan-African entities like the Association of African Universities can help us achieve equity in academic careers.”
The public roundtable was part of the seventh MIASA Female Academic Careers in Africa Workshop, organised in collaboration with the German Historical Institute Paris (GHIP) and the Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy (CEGENSA) at the University of Ghana. The organising team included Dr. Susann Baller from Centre Marc Bloch; Prof. Grace Diabah from MIASA; Dr. Deborah Atobrah and Dr. Abena Kyere from CEGENSA; Prof. Charlotte Wrigley-Asante from the Department of Geography and Resource Development and Eleonora Marchioni from the German Historical Institute Paris (GHIP).
Interactive session during the rountable event
The roundtable spotlighted the importance of addressing gender inequalities and showcased the University of Ghana's dedication to advancing a more inclusive and equitable academic environment.
