Excitement, Laughter, Life Lessons and Motivation Liven Up VC-CEGENSA Breakfast Session

Given the tight schedule of the Vice-Chancellor, the UG female faculty's recent experience with her was a great opportunity and a joy to behold!

As part of the Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy’s (CEGENSA) mentoring activities for the year, it organized for the Vice Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah-Amfo, to have breakfast with early and mid-career female faculty of the University to provide an informal platform for the participating female faculty to have a conversation with Professor Amfo.

The Vice-Chancellor was excited by the enthusiasm to which the female faculty responded to the invitation. She encouraged the participants to be good at their work, keep their focus and speak up when they have to. The female academics listened attentively as Professor Nana Aba Amfo recounted her journey to becoming the Chief Executive of the University, sharing tips on how she maneuvered the challenges and high demands of academia, whilst enjoying the perks of motherhood. During the Question and Answer session, the Vice-Chancellor answered questions on research output pressure, good support systems, juggling family life with work, mentorship and networks, and her academic trajectory.

Professor Amfo invited her mentor Professor Emmanuel Kweku Osam, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, to lend his support to the ladies. Together, Professors Amfo and Osam charged the female faculty to put themselves out for leadership positions once they qualify. 

Professor Kweku Osam used the opportunity to motivate the female faculty to forge ahead in spite of the hurdles. “Your predecessors have broken many barriers so we’re not going to lower the levels or standards for you to be promoted, we won’t, the system won’t, so it means you have to work extra hard’. He advised the female faculty not to exclude themselves from competing for leadership positions, rather, he asked them to become integral members of the University who know the various instruments that govern the University. “Do not shy away from seeking leadership positions, because the more women we have in leadership positions, chances are that the system will become a bit more female friendly’, he said. Expressing his views on mentorship, Prof. Osam called on the female faculty to be committed to mentoring particularly female students, as they carry on with their careers.

Earlier, in her welcome statement, Dr. Deborah Atobrah, Director of CEGENSA, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for persistently seeking an opportunity to make her position as a source of inspiration to female academics. She presented a brief overview of the Centre’s mandate and invited more female faculty members to sign up as affiliates of CEGENSA.

There were testimonials from Dr. Sewoenam Chachu, Head, Department of French, Dr. Dorothy Pokua Agyepong, Lecturer, Department of Linguistics and Dr. Ekua Houphouet, University Hospital, who attested to the awesome mentor-mentee relationship, they have with the Vice-Chancellor which has had tremendous impact on their personal and career paths.

The event promoted networking amidst good music, tasty food, a dance competition and a display of artistic talents from the children who accompanied their mothers. The ladies shared jokes, encouraged each other to pursue greatness and danced joyously. The Vice-Chancellor joined all the representatives of the four Colleges to battle it out on the dance floor and she seemed to have had the most fun, mesmerizing all, with her great dance moves on Buga, Jerusalema and Down Flat.

At the end of the event, the feedback from the female faculty was positive. Dr. Sarah Dorgbadzi, Head Theatre Arts Department said, “we’re all leaving this place fired up! We’ll reap promotions, publications and visibility from this event”. 

Dr. Abena Kyere, Research Fellow, CEGENSA, moved the vote of thanks. It was certainly a fun and learning moment!
 

Click on the link to view photos of the event.