By James Amoh Junior, GNA
Accra, Aug. 22, GNA – ActionAid Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has celebrated 35 years of advancing gender equality, social justice, and the empowerment of vulnerable communities.
This came with a call for stronger collective action to confront persistent poverty, youth unemployment, and climate change challenges.
The anniversary, on the theme: “Celebrating 35 Years of Gender Equality and Social Justice in Ghana,” brought together key stakeholders from civil society, government, traditional authorities, development partners, the private sector, and the media.
The cocktail event highlighted impact stories, inspiring reflections, and an advocacy spotlight on systemic inequalities, especially those affecting women, children, and marginalized groups.
Mr. John Nkaw, Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, said the organisation’s journey since 1990 had been one of solidarity, resilience, and transformation.
He recounted how ActionAid, which began in the Bawku West District as a small service provider, had grown into a national force for social justice across 11 regions.
“Thirty-five years on, our vision has not wavered. In fact, it has grown stronger. Together with communities, we have sown seeds of transformation that continue to bear fruits in the lives of women, girls, and young people across the country,” he said.
Mr. Nkaw further highlighted the organisation’s achievements in agroecology and food sovereignty, where over 2,000 female extension volunteers have led climate-resilient farming practices, directly benefiting more than 15,000 women farmers.
More than 200 communities, he said, the NGO now had Climate Adaptation Plans that safeguard livelihoods against the effects of climate change.
He also pointed to the creation of Women in Agriculture Platforms (WAPs), which have provided opportunities for over 16,000 women to participate more effectively in agricultural value chains.
Beyond agriculture, ActionAid has played a pioneering role in women’s rights advocacy, spearheading national conversations on unpaid care work, influencing labour reforms for domestic workers, and pushing for Ghana’s ratification of international conventions.
The Young Urban Women’s Movement, one of ActionAid’s flagship youth initiatives, was instrumental in the passage of the Affirmative Action Law in 2024.
The organisation has also been at the forefront of campaigns to end harmful practices, particularly witchcraft accusations, which continue to stigmatise elderly women.
Through advocacy and collaboration, ActionAid supported the closure of two alleged witch camps in Boyanse and Nabuli, and championed the formation of the Coalition Against Witch Accusations.
In education, more than 200 Girls’ Empowerment and Advocacy Platforms have been established across 11 regions, supporting young girls with leadership skills, sexual and reproductive health education, and opportunities to return to school.
Over 20,500 children have been reintegrated into classrooms through these efforts.
On humanitarian response, Mr. Nkaw recalled ActionAid’s interventions during disasters, including the 2019 Upper East floods, where over 10,000 victims received relief ranging from food items to hygiene kits.
The organisation also built a Survivors’ Centre in Wa, which has provided refuge to more than 100 survivors of domestic violence. Its Community-Based Anti-Violence Teams (COMBATs), now adopted by other organisations, have rescued at least 169 girls from child marriages.
While celebrating these milestones, Mr. Nkaw acknowledged that the challenges ahead remain daunting.
“One in four Ghanaians still lives below the national poverty line. Ghana is still faced with youth unemployment, and climate change continues to threaten our food systems. These realities call us not to slow down, but to push forward with even greater determination,” he urged.
Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, commended ActionAid Ghana for its 35 years of transformative work.
She noted that the organisation’s interventions aligned closely with government’s mission of uplifting vulnerable populations.
“Your advocacy for women’s rights has been nothing short of transformative, prompting legislative changes such as the Affirmative Action Law (2024), driving critical labour reforms, and shutting down alleged witch camps, thereby restoring dignity to vulnerable women,” she said.
She stressed that the ministry saw ActionAid’s achievements not as statistics but as lives changed and communities empowered.
From unpaid care work campaigns to climate adaptation and protection for survivors of violence, the Minister said the organisation’s work has been “a vital partner to the Gender Ministry and an essential pillar of our national development.”
Dr. Lartey, however, cautioned against complacency, pointing to Ghana’s persistent social challenges.
“With one in four Ghanaians still facing poverty, rampant youth unemployment, and the looming threats of climate change, the fight for social, gender, and climate justice demands our immediate and collective action,” she emphasised.
The Minister assured that her ministry would continue to partner with ActionAid Ghana in implementing the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, to accelerate gender equality and social protection for all.
GNA
Edited by Christian Akorlie