The Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) has re-inaugurated its women’s wing, Women in Surveying (WinS) to emphasise the need for more women to venture into the surveying profession which has been perceived as a male-dominated occupation.

Speaking at the re-inauguration ceremony in Accra on Thursday, Surveyor Princess Monica Boateng urged members and executives of the WinS to use the association to strengthen their professional capabilities.

As women, she said, doing researches will empower them to stand out, be on top of issues and become competitive in the surveying field which is largely dominated by men.

According to Surv. Monica Boateng who is one of the first women to become professional surveyors in Ghana, surveyors are key players in the development and beautification of every nation and community, therefore, sharpening one's skills in the field is very necessary.

She identified some challenges Ghana is facing including its current housing deficit hovering around 1.7 million, issues in the mortgage market, urban-rural re-development, land use planning management, among others and urged the women surveyors to use research and “develop concepts that will enhance the much needed surveying policies”.

Surv. Monica Boateng further advised the women surveyors and members of the WinS to put aside their individual differences and support each other as that is the only way they can survive and deliver in their chosen profession.

“I further and humbly ask you not to be another female association for judging fellow female members by ethnicity, religion or marital status, there’s no space for that. I know and I believe you’ll succeed in your endeavour,” she maintained.

About Women in Surveying (WinS)

The Women in Surveying (WinS) is the women’s wing of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS). The association was inaugurated with the objective of promoting the practice of surveying among women, create and advance the opportunities for women in the surveying profession, equip women for wider responsibilities in the profession, showcase women surveyors as role models, among others.

In an interview with ghanaweb.com at the sidelines of the re-inauguration ceremony, Coordinator for WinS, Mercy Acheampong said the association will motivate women surveyors and woo more through various programmes and initiatives.

She said the significance of the re-inauguration is to “sensitise ladies who are in the profession to know that we are also capable of doing what the men have been doing in terms of surveying.”

According to her, Ghana currently has only about 12 percent of surveyors being females, hence the need to advocate for more women to develop an interest in surveying.

“We’re using this opportunity to advocate for more ladies, for more girls by going to the various schools to sensitise them for the profession,” she said.

The WinS Coordinator also noted that surveying has been modernised making it easier for practitioners to even sit in the comfort of their offices and still do their work.

“Gone were the days when we thought that in surveying all you need to do is wear a cap and go into the bush to be chasing after wild animals for which reason females always dread to take up that occupation,”

She explained that with the invention of the GPS and other technological devices, surveying has become fun.

Mrs. Acheampong however, called for intense advocacy among women so as create awareness on the changes the surveying field has seen over the years and the need for females to venture into the profession.