The President of the Electricity Company of Ghana Women in Engineering (ECG-WinE), Alberta Amankwaa, has encouraged young girls to pursue careers in
The President of the Electricity Company of Ghana Women in Engineering (ECG-WinE), Alberta Amankwaa, has encouraged young girls to pursue careers in engineering, describing the field as one filled with opportunities for women who are determined to make a difference.
She made the call during a career guidance programme at the Ofaakor M/A Basic ‘A’ School in the Awutu Senya East Municipality of the Central Region.
The event, organized as part of ECG-WinE’s social impact outreach programme, also included the distribution of sanitary pads to the participating girls.
The President of the Electricity Company of Ghana Women in Engineering (ECG-WinE), Alberta Amankwaa, has urged young girls to develop an interest in engineering, describing it as a rewarding profession with vast opportunities for women who aspire to make an impact.
She made the call during a career guidance and mentorship programme at the Ofaakor M/A Basic ‘A’ School in the Awutu Senya East Municipality of the Central Region. The event formed part of ECG-WinE’s social impact outreach initiative, which also included the distribution of sanitary pads to promote good menstrual hygiene and reduce absenteeism among schoolgirls.
Empowering the Next Generation
Ms. Amankwaa explained that one of ECG-WinE’s key objectives is to mentor young girls to pursue engineering-related courses, helping to build a future pool of female engineers for the company and the country at large.
“There is a huge gender gap in the ECG. The percentage of male to female engineers is about seven to 93. To bridge this gap, we need to groom and mentor young females who can eventually join the engineering profession,” she said.
She noted that the group had begun engaging students from basic and second-cycle schools to nurture their interest early, while also providing internship opportunities at ECG for those pursuing tertiary education.
“When it is time for recruitment, we present the young women we have mentored for interviews. Those who qualify are recruited into the company,” she added.
Promoting Menstrual Hygiene
Touching on the sanitary pad donation, Ms. Amankwaa said the gesture aimed to help the girls maintain good menstrual hygiene and stay in school consistently.
“We are here to educate them on how to care for themselves during that time of the month and to donate sanitary pads to support them,” she said.
Encouraging Girls to Overcome Stereotypes
The Acting District Manager for Amansaman and Programme Committee Member of ECG, Benedicta Opoku-Mensah, said the Ofaakor M/A Basic School was carefully selected because its students rarely benefit from such career guidance sessions.
She emphasized that the exercise was not only about inspiring the girls to consider engineering but also about supporting their overall well-being and self-confidence.
“If you want them to become future engineers, they must start preparing now — taking care of their health and staying focused,” she explained.
Ms. Opoku-Mensah further encouraged the girls to dismiss the outdated notion that engineering is a “male-dominated” or physically demanding field.
“Gone are the days when engineers had to lift heavy things. Technology has changed the game — we now have automation and hydraulics doing the heavy lifting. Engineering today is about creativity, innovation, and technical knowledge,” she said.
She added that with modern tools and software, engineering has become more about problem-solving than physical strength, making it an accessible and exciting career path for women.