The Chief Executive Officer of Tullow Oil Ghana, Kweku Awotwi, has challenged firms in the oil and gas space to establish gender policies that ensure women are empowered and feel comfortable working in the industry.

“At Tullow, for instance, we are proud of our SMART working approach, which allows women and men alike, to align the demands of work with the demands of life”, he disclosed at the launch of Women In Energy Ghana Network”.

According to the Global Energy Talent Index (GETI) report, which surveyed more than 20,000 people across the oil and gas industry in 2018, women make up 10% of the global energy workforce in oil and gas, renewables, petrochemical, power and nuclear sectors.

The situation is no different in Ghana, according to available data.

Ghana is yet to have a female minister, substantive or deputy, of petroleum, power or energy. There are also only 3 Ghanaian female CEOs to be found in both government and international oil companies.

Additionally, a 2018 study on gender representation in the petroleum sector by energy policy NGO, Ghana Oil and Gas for Inclusive Growth, said there were only three female chairs on 33 Boards surveyed, with only five of those Boards having more than one woman represented.

Mr Awotwi said: “So, how can women’s participation be increased and strengthened in the Energy sector? One way is to support and promote STEM education and programmes for women, grow our female human resource and build their capacity for what some might describe as complex fields of endeavour.”

He added: “At Tullow, we employ a number of women geologists, geoscientists, petroleum and reservoir engineers. Beyond that, part of our targets includes raising awareness and reducing the gender pay gap, and I am pleased to say some progress has been made over the last three years to advance that agenda.”

According to him, Tullow’s ranking on the Hampton Alexander Review, an independent review body championing more women in senior leadership positions and on FTSE Boards, has seen an improvement from position 234 for November 2017 to position 225 for November 2018.

He said achieving greater gender diversity in the energy industry will not be easy, adding that the platform, represented by this Women in Energy launch, is an important means that will help bridge this gap.

He challenged the women to take advantage of this platform – use it to network and learn about the opportunities and challenges that the energy industry throws up.