How MLGCRA is Building an Inclusive Culture from the Inside Out
(By Darling Maame Efua Cann)
Before tasks are assigned, before reports are submitted, and long before results are celebrated, there is deeper work that must be done. It is the work of creating understanding among colleagues, of making space for every voice at the table, of recognising that gender is not just policy it’s personal.
At the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), this work is being intentionally nurtured. Through a transformative Gender Mainstreaming Sensitization Workshop held on July 2, 2025, the Ministry has begun a powerful internal shift: shaping not just programmes, but people and laying the foundation for a more respectful, responsive, and inclusive work environment.
The workshop, led by the Ministry’s Gender Desk and aligned with its 2025 Gender Work Plan, brought together Directors and Unit Heads to reflect on what it truly means to wear gender lenses not only in policy planning but in everyday work culture, decision-making, and team interaction.
A Culture That Sees Everyone
Officially opening the session, Mr. Dela Kemevor, Director of General Administration, emphasized the importance of cultivating a professional culture where gender sensitivity isn’t a formality, but a value system. “Our ability to deliver inclusive development starts with how we work together as colleagues,” he noted.
Facilitators took participants on an interactive journey through the principles and practice of gender mainstreaming, encouraging honest reflection on biases, workplace dynamics, and how gender impacts communication, leadership, and access to opportunity.
The dialogue was rich. Participants shared stories, challenges, and aspirations — learning that gender inclusion is not only about outcomes but about processes. How we speak to each other. Who gets heard. Who gets supported. Who feels seen.
Why This Matters at Work
At the core of any thriving institution is its people. And when people feel respected and understood regardless of gender, they perform better, lead better, and build stronger teams.
Mainstreaming gender in the workplace fosters an environment of mutual respect and empathy, where individuals feel valued beyond stereotypes or assumptions. It actively reduces unconscious bias and curbs microaggressions, creating space for more honest and respectful interactions among colleagues.
By promoting fairness in task allocation, career progression, and leadership opportunities, it ensures that every staff member has an equal chance to contribute and grow. It also enhances collaboration by drawing from a diversity of perspectives and experiences, leading to more innovative and well-rounded decision-making. Ultimately, such a culture boosts staff morale, strengthens team cohesion, and improves overall productivity and institutional well-being.
It is not about favouring one gender over another, it is about creating a level playing field, where every staff member feels safe, supported, and empowered to contribute fully.
Wearing Gender Lenses in Planning and Practice
In her closing remarks, Madam Priscilla Attipoe, Deputy Director and moderator of the session, urged participants to carry the day’s lessons into both policy and practice. “Let us wear gender lenses when we plan and when we relate. Inclusion is not an event. It is a daily commitment and it begins with us,” she said.
Her message echoed deeply: that the truest form of institutional change starts not in boardrooms but in how we work with the person next to us, whether subordinate, supervisor, or peer.
MLGCRA’s Path Forward
The Ministry’s commitment to gender mainstreaming is not performative. It is strategic. And it is humane. By investing in staff training and embedding gender awareness across departments, MLGCRA is laying the groundwork for long-term, people-centered change.
From district assemblies to headquarters, the goal is clear: build teams that reflect the values we want to see in the country; fairness, dignity, empathy, and shared responsibility.
As Ghana continues to champion inclusive governance and equitable development, it must be mirrored in how institutions operate behind the scenes. And at MLGCRA, that mirroring has begun, one lens, one team, one transformation at a time.
(The writer is a Public Relations Officer with the Ministry of Local Government. Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) and a Staff of the Information Services Department (ISD)
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