By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, March 21, GNA – A day’s forum has been held in Tamale to explore how vulnerable and socially excluded groups can benefit from key government policies and programmes for sustainable and inclusive development.
The workshop provided platform for marginalised communities to interact with relevant stakeholders including policymakers to discuss challenges and identify opportunities within flagship government policies and programmes that could improve their livelihoods.
Organised by the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana), an NGO, with funding support from STAR Ghana Foundation and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the event brought together representatives of vulnerable groups including women, youth, and Fulbe communities, civil society organisations, political parties, and government agencies, as part of efforts to promote equitable access to social and economic programmes.
The discussions focused on key thematic areas such as economic empowerment, agricultural and rural development, education and skills acquisition, health and social protection, and inclusive governance.
Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, Executive Director of SWIDA-Ghana, speaking during the event, emphasised that the forum was to bridge the gap between political leaders and excluded groups in Northern Ghana.
She said the initiative sought to promote inclusive political participation, strengthen accountability, and enhance democratic engagement.
She said, “We organised this workshop to allow stakeholders particularly the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government to explain how vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, women, and youth could access policies and programmes such as the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank and the Free First-Year Tertiary Education initiative.”
Mr Mohammed Zacious, Northern Regional Deputy Organizer of the NDC, sensitised participants on the party’s key social interventions and assured them of the government’s commitment to fulfilling them.
Speaking on the Women’s Development Bank policy, he highlighted that the initiative would be transparent and inclusive, eliminating the rigorous procedures that often discouraged socially excluded groups from participating.
Regarding the Free First-Year Tertiary Education policy, he assured participants that fees already paid by students for this academic year would be refunded to them.
He encouraged students, especially persons with disabilities, to take advantage of the initiative to improve their lives.
Madam Mantamia Mildred, Northern Regional Special Education Coordinator of the Ghana Education Service, commended SWIDA-Ghana, and its partners for creating an avenue to promote sustainable, inclusive development.
She urged participants, particularly persons with disabilities, to seek timely information about the implementation of the policies to ensure they were not left out.
GNA
EA/AD