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The Ghana Army has on Friday, 24 January 2025 commissioned a 200-bed female accommodation facility at the Army Recruit Training School (ARTS) in Shai Hills. The facility which was started in May 2023 and completed after 20 months, was funded by the Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) and aims to provide a safe and dignified living space for female recruits during their training.According to Dr Efua Ansere, representative of the EIF Manager, the project followed the recommendations of the Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations Report. She said the report identified key barriers to women's meaningful participation in peace operations, including inadequate infrastructure.Again, she indicated that the facility funded through a $1. 5 million project, supported by the EIF addresses one of these barriers directly, ensuring females have access to gender-sensitive accommodation that provides safety, privacy, and dignity at the school. Dr Ansere emphasized that the facility demonstrates Ghana's commitment to addressing structural barriers limiting women's participation in peacekeeping.The Counselor for Political and Public Affairs at the High Commission of Canada to Ghana, Elsa Mouelhi-Rondeau asserted that by providing safe, convivial, and inclusive environments that are well adapted to women's needs, the Ghana Armed Forces becomes more attractive to young women. She stated further that women have slightly different accommodation and evolution needs than men, and these need to be properly accommodated for women to be able to reach their full potential and contribute their skills meaningfully.Madam Mouelhi-Rondeau revealed that Canada had proudly contributed $17,500,000 to date to the EIF, adding that Canada is a proud partner of the Ghana Armed Forces in identifying and addressing the barriers to women's participation in the military and ultimately, in peace operations.The General Officer Commanding (GOC) Southern Command, Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Samuel Yeboah Asare, representing the Chief of the Army Staff as Guest of Honour, said traditionally the Ghana Armed Forces' training structures had been geared towards male recruits and officers. However, he stated that with the increasing intake of female trainees, there was a need for additional facilities to enhance their training.  He revealed that last year, ARTS trained 830 recruits, with 224 being female, the highest number of females trained by the school so far. Brig Gen Asare indicated that the new accommodation block has 56 showers and 36 toilets, a significant improvement from the previous wooden structure that had 16 bathrooms and 16 toilets.Brig Gen Asare thanked the Canadian Government and the EIF for their support. He urged ARTS to maintain the facility well, emphasizing the importance of a good maintenance culture.He added that the facility would play a critical role in promoting gender equality within the Ghana Armed Forces, stressing that female recruits can now focus on their training, knowing they have a safe and comfortable place to live.

Brig Gen Asare stated further that the Ghana Army's efforts to promote gender equality are in line with global trends and the UN agenda on women, peace, and security. He added that the commissioning of the facility marked a significant step towards achieving gender inclusivity in the Ghana Armed Forces.