By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, Feb 14, GNA – A day’s forum for women leaders has been held in Tamale to promote inclusive leadership and meaningful participation of women and youth in decision-making processes.
The forum dubbed “Bi – Annual District Grassroot Networking Forum” was organised by the Net Organization for Youth Empowerment and Development (NOYED – Ghana), an NGO among other partners.
The event, which was attended by women leader’s platforms and youth networks from the Savelugu Municipality, formed part of the implementation of the Heard Everywhere and Represented Daily (HEARD) project, being implemented by NOYED – Ghana and funded by Norsaac.
The project is aimed at promoting the voice, participation, and inclusion of rural – vulnerable youth and women in Ghana’s governance processes and structures.
It was on the theme “Empowering Voices, Strengthening Partnership for Women and Youth in Inclusive Governance”.
The Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD), Centre for Active Learning and Integrated Development (CALID – Ghana, National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Campaign for Female Education Association were among the CSOs who participated in the forum.
Mr Sulemana Zulka Salpawuni, Lead of the HEARD Project at NOYED – Ghana, said the forum was designed to promote networking and knowledge sharing on women and youth inclusion in governance and leadership.
Mr Salpawuni said the move was tailored to link the CSOs and the women leaders and youth groups to facilitate advocacy on inclusive governance.
He said, “Looking at the Northern Region and the country as whole, women and youth are underrepresented in our leadership and governance structures, we need to leverage on the expertise of the CSOs to support the groups advocate policies and programmes that guarantee inclusivity”.
Mr Abu Firdaus Fuseini, Project Officer at CALID Ghana, during the event entreated women and youth groups to cultivate the spirit of volunteerism and skills acquisition to gather the exposure and experience required to serve at any leadership position.
Madam Afishetu Alhassan, Immediate past President of the Campaign for Female Education Association in the Savelugu Municipality, thanked NOYED – Ghana and partners for the forum, saying “The event has really exposed us to timely information on how we can lead advocacy on inclusive governance through legitimate processes”.
GNA