By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Bolgatanga, Jan. 25, GNA – The Rural Initiative for Self-Empowerment-Ghana (RISE-Ghana), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has convened women leaders in the Upper East Region to foster collaboration, mentorship, and collective growth.
The meeting which is part of the Heard Everywhere and Represented Daily (HEARD) project is currently being implemented in the Bolgatanga Municipality and Kassena-Nankana District in the Upper East Region by RISE-Ghana.
Other aspects of the project are also being implemented in other districts in the North-East and Upper West Regions by a consortium of some NGOs and it is funded by Norsaac, an NGO.
The women leaders, who were from various sectors including health, education, politics, and civil society organisations, were brought together to deliberate on issues affecting women’s development and identify their potentials for growth.
It was also to offer a platform for them to chart a path towards mentorship for young women, to serve as role models to them and promote their leadership in governance.
Mrs Jaw-Haratu Amadu, the Head of Programme Management, RISE-Ghana, said the HEARD project aimed at promoting the voice of youth, women, and persons with disabilities at the governance level, and bringing the women leaders together was a step to achieving its objectives.
“So, we are planning to have young women in the region who would identify people among these women leaders as their mentors, so that they help them identify some of the challenges that exist and nurture them to overcome it,” she added.
She called on social groups, political parties, and other associations to embrace gender policies in fulfilment of the Affirmative Action Law.
Ms Fati Abigail Abdulai, the Executive Director of the Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM) and facilitator of the workshop on the Affirmative Action Law, said the legislation required a 30 per cent representation of women in all sectors spanning from 2024 to 2026 and charged women to aspire for various positions.
She noted that one of the major issues faced by women in governance was stereotyping and called on civil society organisations to increase their sensitisations, to complement the Affirmative Action Law in demystifying such stereotypes that undermined and discourage women from aspiring for higher positions.
Madam Mariama Mahama, the Nabdam District Director of Health and a participant, said it was important that women demonstrated competence and hard work and not allow childbearing to create a barrier to their performances at the workplace.
She said this would accord them the needed support and validation from the public and any appointing authority to earn them a position in governance.
Mrs Bride Apania, the Upper East Regional President of the Past and Present Assembly Women Association (PPAWA) and a participant, charged young women to acquire skills and attain higher qualifications to better their chances of political appointments and leadership roles.
GNA