By Solomon Gumah
Kalariga (N/R), March 04, GNA – Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, the Executive Director of the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana), an NGO, has called for the implementation of policies that safeguard marginalised groups to promote inclusive national development.
She said such measures would not only foster national cohesion but also ensure that the interests and voices of marginalised and underrepresented communities were considered in policy formulation and implementation.
Hajia Sagito-Saeed made the call during a community advocacy session at Kalariga in the Tamale Metropolis.
The event formed part of SWIDA-Ghana’s ongoing efforts to promote social inclusion and mobilise public support for the needs of marginalised communities in the Northern Region and help amplify the voices of excluded social groups including women, youth, persons with disabilities, and Fulbe communities to enhance their active participation in governance.
Supported by STAR Ghana Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the event attracted over 200 participants including youth groups, women, girls, and persons with disabilities.
It was to raise awareness of the challenges confronting excluded social groups and to advocate policies and practices that promoted social inclusion and equal opportunities.
Hajia Sagito-Saeed encouraged active community participation in policymaking to ensure that their voices were adequately represented on national issues.
Mr Amankona Ampofo, the Director, Northern Regional Secretariat of the National Youth Authority, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to the holistic development of young people in the country.
He emphasised the need for community stakeholders to show greater interest in the well-being of the youth to ensure they were properly groomed to support the nation’s overall development.
Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, the Northern Regional Director, National Commission for Civic Education, highlighted the importance of patriotism and encouraged participants to actively engage in Ghana’s development initiatives.
Mr Alhassan Issahak, the Assembly Member for the Kalariga Electoral Area, commended SWIDA-Ghana and its partners for engaging residents, noting that the meeting had helped rekindle the spirit of patriotism among them.
GNA