By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, April 7, GNA – The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana), an NGO, has intensified its advocacy for the rights of minorities and socially excluded communities.
The advocacy initiative encompassed radio discussions to educate the public on the importance of promoting the rights of minority tribes and the socially excluded groups in the country for sustainable development.
The media engagement was to foster inclusivity and drive national development, especially among deprived communities.
The advocacy formed part of the implementation of the project titled: “Empowering the Excluded for Increased Participation in Elections and Governance Processes in Northern Ghana”.
It primarily targets Fulbe communities, women, and youth across five districts in the Northern Region and four districts in the Savannah Region.
The beneficiary districts include Tamale Metropolis, Sagnarigu, Savelugu, Kumbungu, Tolon, West Gonja, Central Gonja, North Gonja, and Sawla-Tuna-Kalba.
Implemented since October last year, the project has received funding support from STAR Ghana Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
It incorporates various advocacy and capacity-building activities, including sensitisation on inclusive governance, fundamental human rights, and electoral processes.
Miss Patience Basing, Project Officer at SWIDA-Ghana, spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after a public sensitisation engagement with Radio Savannah, a Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) radio in Tamale.
She emphasised that the initiative was to raise public awareness on safeguarding the rights of minority and vulnerable groups in the country.
She said the project had played a crucial role in educating communities on the importance of eliminating discrimination and abuse, particularly against persons with disabilities.
Similar radio discussions were also held at Damongo in the Savannah Region.
Mr Yahaya Mohammed, Northern Regional President, Fulbe Youth Association of Ghana, highlighted the project’s positive impact on Fulbe communities.
He said it had enhanced their understanding of fundamental human rights and responsibilities while also granting them access to key stakeholders essential for addressing their challenges.
He mentioned a significant achievement of the project, saying “The National Identification Authority has now begun registering some of our members for the Ghana Card, which is crucial for inclusive governance.”
Mr Mohammed appealed to the government and other stakeholders to implement policies and programmes that guaranteed the rights of all Ghanaians.
Mrs Shahadatu Nima Abubakari, Northern Regional President, Federation of Disability Organizations, emphasised need for active stakeholder participation, including traditional authorities to ensure a more inclusive society.
She expressed concern over the increasing discrimination and marginalization faced by persons with disabilities, including sexual violence, which had traumatized many members of their community.
She urged traditional authorities and opinion leaders to refrain from shielding perpetrators of sexual violence against persons with disabilities and to allow the law to take its course serving as a deterrent to others.
GNA
EA/CA