The School, on the theme: “Re-Activating Gender-sensitive research on land commodification, land tenure and gender in Africa” is providing young academicians the relevant theoretical knowledge on gender inter-relations and their impact on land policies and livelihoods especially for women.
It is being organised jointly by the Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD) of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the Theologische Hochschule Friedensau and Freie University, Germany; and being attended by scholars and researchers from Ethiopia, Ireland Nigeria, Uganda, Germany, Ghana and Sudan,
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of CEGRAD, UCC, Professor Akua Pokua Britwum, noted that masculinity in the African society had strong implications for issues of land governance.
She bemoaned the situation where women were seen as the junior patrons in terms of land access, while they remained the major producers on various farms and hoped that the School would enable researchers to focus more in that area to shape people’s perception.
Professor Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme, Vice Dean, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, UCC, stated that addressing land issues in a gender perspective would ensure equal opportunities for its female staff and students, and the larger society.
He observed that gender inequality slowed down economic growth poverty reduction, adding that women needed to be empowered to keep on working hard to elevate their lives.
An international facilitator of the Hamattan School, Professor Ulrike Schultz from Germany challenged the participants to research more on gender activities especially in the areas of gender development and development organizations as there were much to be learned in those areas.
She observed that though there existed customary rights for women, there was the need for a proper property rights to protect the lives of women and was optimistic that with more programmes such as the Hamattan School, women would be mentioned when it came to the big issues.
Source: GNA
