By Solomon Gumah, GNA
Tamale, June 27, GNA – A consultative inception workshop to collate stakeholders’ input to de-risk women at the personal, household and community levels through male engagement and intra-household dialogue mechanism has been held in Tamale.
The workshop, which served as proof-of-concept platform, was to initiate mutual conversation about the possibility of men supporting the business enterprises of their spouses without any unhealthy rivalry and confrontations between them.
The workshop formed part of the implementation strategy of the $10 spark project, a seven-month initiative to be carried out in both Ghana and Nigeria.
In Ghana, the project is being implemented in the Tolon, Savelugu, Kumbungu, Karaga, Mion, Nanton, Kasena-Nankana West, Nabdam, Talensi and Bolgatanga Assemblies of the Northern and Upper East Regions.
The $10 spark project seeks to create 20,000 male champions and 200 community-based agents in both countries to facilitate community dialogues.
It is being implemented by Grameen Foundation, an international NGO, with the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) in Northern Region and RISE-Ghana in the Upper East Region as the local implementing partners.
Traditional and religious leaders, Assembly Members of beneficiary districts, women groups and other male champions were among the participants at the workshop.
Mr Alfred Yeboah, Director for Global Programmes Operations at Grameen Foundation, speaking during the workshop in Tamale, said over the years, the organisation had implemented several women economic strengthening programmes, which had recorded some negative unintended consequences because of some harmful and entrenched gender norms in the communities.
He said, “In order to fully achieve our goals, we came up with this initiative to engage women, who are already in our programmes, and their spouses to examine the possibility of men complementing their wives’ enterprises that translate into economic prosperity at the family and community levels.”
He underscored the need for men to embrace the realities that women were strong partners in development and not competitors and must be supported in generating viable business concepts, which would help to dismantle some of the existing social norms that had impeded the holistic growth and development of women.
Madam Jaw-haratu Amadu, Head of Programmes at RISE-Ghana said the initiative, if fully embraced by men, would lead to massive economic transformation for families and invariably reduce domestic violence in the communities.
She said when women received the support and endorsement of their male counterparts in operating their businesses, it enhanced financial stability and promoted climate resilience in the communities.
Madam Agamboka Felicia, Queen Mother of Bongo-Feo in the Bongo Traditional Area, in Upper East Region, said the initiative would improve girls’ education in the area and also reduce school dropout rate and the issues of teenage pregnancy.
She appealed to women not to consider the prosperity of their enterprises a means to abuse men, but to support each other in raising a family that would contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
GNA