Gender diversity at the workplace has been a hot topic in global discourse lately and it is subtly warming its way into Ghana.
The move has sparked a restructure of work policies in some companies and organisations; elsewhere women are now being paid as their male counterparts in the same role and some companies are offering opportunities that will see more of their female staff in higher ranks.
So the unveiling of a report titled, ‘Gender Diversity in Ghanaian Boardrooms’ that took place today June 14, 2018 is timely as the findings of the report has come to either serve as a wake-up call or an eye-opener to decision-makers and business owners depending on where they stand.
For a refresher, what is a boardroom?
A boardroom is a meeting place of a board of directors. And who are board of directors?
Board of directors by definition is a group of people who have been elected to represent shareholders of an organisation or a company to enact policies for corporate management and make crucial decisions on varied issues that affects a company or an organisation.
It is believed that an organisation focused on promoting gender diversity at the workplace are often well-run and also progresses.
Although, the report depicts that 72.15 per cent of the boards studied had female representation, the ratio of females to males remained low with diversity typically ranging from 20 per cent to 30 per cent.
The report conducted by International Finance Corporation (IFC), State Secretariat of Economic Affairs Switzerland (SECO) and the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) found that better performing companies in Ghana tend to have more gender-balanced boards.
In other words, Ghanaian companies where women are well represented, tend to progress.
Or more women on boards is equal to progression.
So what are we waiting for? Why not push for more Ghanaian women on boards?
Pamela Ofori-Boateng/ Business World Ghana