By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Zebilla (U/E), July 22, GNA – Religious, traditional, and community leaders in some districts of the Upper East and North East Regions, are leading efforts in their respective communities toward eliminating discriminatory gender norms, to achieve gender parity and inclusive development.
The leaders, comprising chiefs, pastors, queenmothers, assembly members, among others, had received training to build their capacities, to champion inclusive development and help eliminate discriminatory gender norms in their communities.
The initiative was part of the “Enhancing Social Cohesion and Social Contract through the Empowerment of Women and Youth in Three Northern Regions of Ghana” project, funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund through the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The initiative is being implemented locally by the Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana (YHFG), an advocacy non-governmental organisation, in the Bongo, Bawku West, and Garu Districts of the Upper East Region, and Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri, Yunyoo-Nasuan, and Chereponi Districts in the North-East Region.
The main goal of the project is to empower local structures and leaders to support efforts aimed at preventing and addressing the root causes of localised and spillover conflicts and vulnerabilities to violent extremism in Northern Ghana.
Speaking at separate events for traditional and religious leaders to learn and share their experiences, the participants commended the project implementers for empowering them and strengthening social cohesion.
The leaders, acting as agents of change, were now able to raise awareness on critical social and cultural issues including teenage pregnancy, child marriage, outmoded cultural practices, and sexual and gender-based violence, among others.
They said the initiative had significantly contributed to driving positive change in their communities on issues including the abolishment of dehumanising cultural practices like child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and reducing barriers to inheritance and land ownership.
Mr Baba Ayinga, a community leader from the Sapeliga community, said through the project, stakeholders in his area had worked together to enact by-laws banning child marriage, FGM, and child labour.
“We have laws that punish parents who allow their underage children to engage in child labour, especially illegal mining (galamsey), and it is helping to reduce many problems in the community,” he said.
Madam Diana Akunpale from the Kulpela community in the Bawku West District, indicated that because of the project, members of her community were becoming increasingly aware of the need to empower and support women for inclusive development.
“Now, several women in our community are allowed to own land and undertake farming activities, unlike before when they were denied inheritance to their late husband’s farmlands if they did not have a male child,” she added.
Pastor Moses Akumbang, another religious leader from Widnaba, noted that the project had enhanced social cohesion among the residents and the Fulbe community, helping to demystify the myths and misconceptions surrounding the people of his area.
Mr David Baniyigane Ajebakwagane, the Project Officer at YHFG, urged the traditional and religious leaders to intensify education to help achieve zero tolerance for gender discrimination in their communities, to promote an inclusive and peaceful society.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/ Christabel Addo