Beating the Odds-“The Woman Possibility” Example
Having beaten the odds and set the pace for other Ghanaian men and women, Captain Cecilia Erzuah in May won the 2022 United Nations (UN) Military Gender Advocate Award.
The 32-year-old peacekeeper who is the first Ghanaian to receive the award was recognised for her role in mainstreaming gender perspectives in her peacekeeping duties in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
Captain Erzuah was deployed in March 2022 to serve under the UN Interim Security Forces in Abyei (UNISFA) as a Commander of the Ghanaian Engagement Platoon.
What she did was to lead patrols and outreach to local leaders, women and youth group, to better understand and help to address their concerns and needs. She also hosted discussions on domestic violence, gender equality and child care.
Her work reportedly increased the number of women in Community Protection Committee, improving early warning system and protection of civilians.
“In my line of work, what I basically did was that my platoon which is responsible for community interaction, key leadership interaction and giving feedback of our activity to the community and vice versa was made up of a mixed gender- so I had equal numbers of men and women.”
“Then in interacting with members of our community I made it a conscious effort to interact with men and women alike. I also lived exemplarily for my colleagues and subordinates,” she stated.
Significance of the Award
According to Captain Erzuah, the award meant a lot to her as a military officer and a woman in uniform as it was the beginning of “greater things” and a new phase of influence on her colleagues and other women.
“So as I have gotten this award it is going to propel other women in uniform to also give off their best and be possible winners of similar awards in the near future,” she said.
This infers that women can equally do better like men when given the same opportunities.
As such, not only will empowering women enable them unleash their potentials, but make them a part of the peace processes and make the work of peacekeepers easier.
“We all know that gender issues have become very important in our world today because if we are able to empower both men and women then these people will be able to use their abilities and gifting to promote peace and development,” Captain Erzuah said.
Advice
Captain Erzuah encouraged women, particularly those wanting to join the security services to go all out and do so as the times for relegating women to the background was a thing of the past.
She says women have to be confident and unleash their potentials as they were good mediators needed in numerous peace discussions.
“Our efforts and abilities are needed in the military and para military institutions. So come all out as one thing that kept me going in the training school was the fact that someone had been in my position and was successful so I could also be successful,” she added.
Captain Erzuah said that was because lots of women were needed on board to ensure that the services had equal numbers.
The Peace Agenda-“It begins with me”
Captain Erzuah believes that if all Ghanaians become ambassadors of peace, the country will continue to enjoy its tranquility.
Stating that peace was a universal language that worked effectively with love, she urged Ghanaians to sustain peace and love themselves.
“Every culture, race, country or individual needs peace in order to thrive. No matter how educated, developed they want to be, no matter the vision they have for the future, they cannot achieve much without peace.”
“Along with peace should be love. If you love your neighbour you will not hurt your neigbour, you will be quick to forgive them, you will give them second chances and you will give peace a chance,” she stated.
This is in alignment with this year’s International Day of UN Peacekeepers observed on the theme “Peace Begins with Me” which reinforces that the search for global peace and security is not a solitary journey, but one that requires the commitment of all and sundry.
Background
Born to Mr John Asibi Erzuah and Madam Elizabeth Dadzie, Captain Erzuah is the second of four children and hails from Apam in the Central Region.
She had her basic education at the Victory Presbyterian School in Adenta, Accra and read General Arts at the Ghana National College in Cape Coast for her secondary education.
Captain Erzuah then proceeded to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) where she completed with Bachelor of Arts in History. In 2015, she was enlisted into the GAF and commissioned in 2016 as a military officer.
Captain Erzuah had her first peace support experience in 2019 with the UN Interim Force of Lebanon and joined the battalion as the Engagement Platoon Commander to the UN Security Forces for Abyei in 2022 where she was nominated for the 2022 UN Gender Advocate Award.
Meanwhile, Captain Erzuah at her leisure loves to design and sew for herself, family, friends as well as clients.
BY ABIGAIL ARTHUR
