Event Title: Promoting Women's Participation in Ghana's Renewable Energy Industry: A Case Study of Lady Volta Green Tech Academy
Date: Friday, February 21
Time: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Location: AQ 6036, SFU, Burnaby campus
*To access this event via zoom link, please drop an email at polcmns@sfu.ca.
About the Event
Women are significantly underrepresented in the renewable energy sector, facing systemic barriers that limit their participation in technical and leadership roles. Through this study, speaker Leticia Yeboah will discuss the impact of the Ghana-based Lady Volta Green Tech Academy (LVGTA) in addressing these challenges through its tailored technical education and support programs for women.
The findings reveal that LVGTA has been instrumental in equipping women with marketable technical skills, such as solar panel installation, electrical wiring, and energy system maintenance. The study recommends targeted interventions to improve outcomes, including financial assistance, mentorship programs, Improving Job Placement and Career Support, and Investing in Faculty and Infrastructure. Addressing systemic barriers and advancing gender equity, this research provides actionable insights for creating an inclusive renewable energy workforce in Ghana, contributing to Sustainable Development Goals 5 (Gender Equality) and 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
About the Speaker:
Leticia Yeboah is a graduate student in Political Science at Simon Fraser University, where her research focuses on Promoting Women’s Participation in Ghana’s Renewable Energy Industry: A Case Study Analysis of Lady Volta Green Tech Academy. Her work critically examines barriers to women’s involvement in the renewable energy sector and explores policy interventions to promote equitable opportunities. This research builds on her longstanding interest in energy policy, public governance, and community empowerment.
Leticia’s academic background includes an MSc in Energy and Resource Economics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, where her thesis analyzed the determinants of deforestation, a critical issue linked to environmental degradation and climate change. She also holds a BSc in Economics from Central University College. As a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer with Ghana’s Forestry Commission, she led the implementation of frameworks to assess progress on sustainable land-use practices under the Ghana Shea Landscape Emission Reduction Project. Her ability to synthesize complex information and produce actionable insights contributed to informed decision-making and enhanced project accountability. As a Research Analyst Intern at the Africa Center for Energy Policy, Leticia worked on projects that deepened her energy access, policy analysis, and community engagement expertise. She conducted interviews, prepared Value for Money (VFM) reports, and organized forums to promote energy efficiency and transparency in Ghana’s oil and gas sector.