Wednesday, 25th April 2007 (2414 views)

The sole underground female miner in Ghana has described how she has been "accepted" in her working community.

Genevieve Tettey, who began working on the Obuasi goldmine in the West African country some five years ago, has described the astonishment and scorn which greeted her arrival as an employee.

However, the 31-year-old, who says that initially people commented on how mines were "not a place for women" has succeeded in the work environment, having been promoted to mine production captain in the intervening period.

Ms Tettey, with 100 men under her command, is now responsible for a quarter of the mine's output, reports the Washington Post.

Women are gradually exerting a greater influence on mining production, with more women believed to be signing up to mining engineering courses in Africa.

Kwame Ocran, administrator at the University of Mines and Technology in the town of Tarkwa, said that women had become more "adventurous" in career choices.

Ms Tettey added: "Mining has now become a lot of brainwork. It is not just about going there and being macho. You have to plan what you do and be smart."

 

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