Senior Lecturer and Consulting Engineer at KNUST, Ing. Dr. Mrs. Bennetta Koomson, has called for stronger national commitment to promoting girls鈥 participation in engineering and science-related careers.
As Ghana joins the global community to mark the International Day of Women in Engineering 2025, Dr. Koomson emphasized the need to break gender biases, create visibility, and provide early exposure to young girls with an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
Speaking on A1 Radio, Dr. Koomson reflected on her own inspiring journey from a versatile, curious young girl with a love for chemistry and mathematics to becoming a respected engineer and educator. 鈥淢y journey has been exciting. I started off as a young girl who is very versatile and also loves to solve problems in our community,鈥 she said.
While acknowledging support from her family, she noted that engineering remains a male-dominated field that can be intimidating for girls due to societal perceptions and lack of access. According to her, one of the major challenges is the limited exposure young girls have to the engineering profession, which leads many to gravitate towards more visible science careers like nursing and medicine.
鈥淭hey usually see doctors and nurses in the science field, so they always want to be that. But they forget that doctors and nurses depend solely on engineers鈥攆or their equipment, infrastructure, and support systems,鈥 she explained.
Dr. Koomson advocated for practical strategies to bridge this visibility gap. These include internships, field trips to technical facilities like power plants and mechanic shops, and virtual engagements where students can learn from female engineers.
She stressed the importance of early mentorship and community encouragement, calling on school heads and administrators to partner with women engineers to inspire students.
鈥淭he headmasters and headmistresses鈥攚e are calling out to you. Please allow us, whether virtually or in person, to engage the young people. You鈥檒l see that we can build their interest in engineering and create a better Ghana,鈥 she appealed.
Highlighting financial support opportunities, she referenced the Mastercard Foundation scholarships and other initiatives specifically designed to help girls access engineering education.
Dr. Koomson also cited global examples like China, where engineers play dominant roles in national leadership and development. She believes Ghana can replicate such progress by investing in engineering education for girls, fostering inclusion, and building enabling environments that help female talent flourish.
This year鈥檚 International Women in Engineering Day is themed 鈥淭ogether, We Engineer鈥, celebrating the collective impact of women in the field and the importance of inclusivity in driving innovation and national transformation.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Moses Apiah|Bolgatanga