GES advocates replacement of Women’s Commissioner role with Gender Commissioner in SRCs
The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Daniel Fenyi, has renewed calls for tertiary institutions in Ghana to replace the Women’s Commissioner position within Student Representative Council (SRC) structures with the role of Gender Commissioner.
According to Mr Fenyi, the proposed change reflects a more modern and inclusive understanding of representation, advocacy, and student governance.
In a statement, he explained that the Women’s Commissioner role was created at a time when the primary objective was to ensure women had representation in largely male-dominated institutional structures.
However, he noted that gender related concerns have evolved beyond women’s issues alone and now require the active involvement of both men and women.
“A Gender Commissioner better captures this inclusivity,” he stated, adding that advocacy should not only focus on empowering women but also on educating and engaging men on gender related matters.
Mr Fenyi argued that the proposed transition aligns with Ghana’s broader policy direction on gender issues. He cited the transformation of the former Ministry of Women and Children Affairs into the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as evidence of a more comprehensive gender focused framework.
He maintained that tertiary institutions, as centres of intellectual leadership and progressive thinking, should ensure that their SRC governance structures reflect current national and global developments.
According to him, replacing the title “Women’s Commissioner” with “Gender Commissioner” would not diminish attention on women’s welfare but rather strengthen advocacy by addressing issues within a broader and more inclusive framework.
Mr Fenyi identified challenges such as sexual harassment, unequal access to opportunities, exploitation, sex for grades, gender based violence, masculinity, mental health, and inclusivity as matters that require a wider perspective.
He further stated that leadership positions within student governance communicate institutional values, warning that retaining the title “Women’s Commissioner” may project an outdated understanding of gender advocacy.
While acknowledging concerns that broadening the role could weaken focus on women’s issues, he insisted that a gender centred approach would instead enhance interventions by recognising the broader social dynamics involved.
“For me, expanding the Women Commissioner role to Gender Commissioner is both a practical and ideological step forward,” he stated.