By Regina Atule
Damongo, July 05, GNA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Savannah Regional Peace Council has held a three-day capacity building workshop aimed at increasing women’s participation in peacebuilding processes, decision-making and local governance.
The workshop, held in Damongo with support from the Governments of Denmark and Luxembourg, brought together 50 women from various communities and organizations across the West Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region.
It was dubbed: “Training of Women Groups to Enhance their Peacebuilding, Early Warning and other Conflict Resolution Capacities” to advocate their participation and inclusion in local governance and peacebuilding processes in the area.
Ms. Melody Azinim, Peace and Governance Analyst at UNDP, speaking during the workshop, said it formed part of series of interventions carried out under the Boosting Women’s Economic Resilience and Inclusion in Decision-Making and Peacebuilding in Ghana” project.
She said the initiative stemmed from pressing concerns, which included the underrepresentation of women, especially young women in leadership, governance, and peace processes despite being amongst the most affected during conflict.
She highlighted the crucial roles women played in society when given the needed support from the grassroots as well as acknowledging societal challenges that hindered women’s participation in leadership roles.
She was optimistic that the training would empower more women to break down cultural barriers and step forward.
The project is currently ongoing in two districts, namely West Gonja in the Savannah Region and Lambussie in the Upper West Region and has supported some communities with livelihood programmes particularly in agro-processing and dry-season farming.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Benjamin Mensah