By Eunice Hilda A. Mensah
Accra, Nov. 27, GNA – Plan International Ghana, a global humanitarian non-governmental organisation, has launched the “Renewed Women’s Voices and Leadership Ghana (RWVLG)” project to support up to 120 impact-making organisations with capacity development, direct grant funding and collective advocacy.
The beneficiary organisations, drawn from all 16 regions, include local, regional and national Women’s Rights Organisations (WROs), Youth-Led Organisations (YLOs), Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs), and related networks.
The six-year project will be funded by Global Affairs Canada and Plan International Canada, and implemented with support from the Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) and the Adolescents Network on Population and Development (AfriYAN) Ghana.
Mr Constant Tchona, Country Director of Plan International Ghana, said the RWVLG project represents the next phase of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP), launched in 2017 to promote gender equality and strengthen the rights of women and girls worldwide.
He said the project draws on key lessons from the previous phase, including the importance of engaging youth-led and emerging organisations and supporting the care and wellbeing of WHRDs whose work often comes at great personal cost.
“Through this, our shared objective remains to enhance the enjoyment of human rights by women and girls in all their diversity, and to advance gender equality in Ghana,” he said.
Mr Tchona said the renewed phase adopts a fully feminist, inclusive, and movement-centred approach aimed at strengthening the organisational capacity, influence and sustainability of women’s rights groups, youth-led networks, organisations of persons with disabilities, informal collectives and other allied actors working to advance gender equality.
Speaking on the theme: “Renewed Voices, Stronger Movements: Powering Ghana’s Gender Equality,” he noted that dedicated advocates continue to champion women’s rights across the country but face limited institutional support.
“It is our responsibility to help ensure they have the resources, networks and visibility their work deserves,” he added.
Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, who was Guest of Honour, said the first phase of the “Women’s Voice and Leadership – Ghana” project enabled more women’s rights organisations, schools and queen mothers to access justice, enjoy their rights, influence change and challenge traditional norms through capacity building, funding and technical support.
She said the Ministry was pleased with the alignment of the renewed project with national priorities.
The implementation of the RWVLG project, she said, would directly support key Ministry initiatives, including the operationalisation of the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act, a landmark legislation aimed at promoting equal representation and participation of women in leadership and decision-making at all levels.
She added that the project would accelerate the rollout of the National Gender Policy, which provides a holistic framework for mainstreaming gender across all sectors. Through its focus on organisational strengthening, advocacy and social mobilisation, the Minister said the project would serve as a catalyst in advancing policy objectives related to women’s economic empowerment and the eradication of gender-based violence.
She noted that the project would also support leadership development by empowering women’s rights organisations, community-based groups and youth-led networks to nurture a new generation of confident, influential female leaders capable of driving transformative change.
In a joint statement, Ms Cynthia Sunu, Programme Manager at NETRIGHT, and Ms Dorcas Manortey-Aggrey of AfriYAN Ghana, affirmed their commitment to strengthening movement-building across generations, regions and sectors, and amplifying the voices of women, youth and marginalised groups in national development.
They pledged to advocate for gender-transformative policies and practices that protect rights, expand opportunities and dismantle systemic inequalities, while ensuring the resilience and sustainability of youth-led and women’s rights organisations at the forefront of social justice in Ghana.
“As we enter this new phase, we stand committed to supporting the renewed Women’s Voices and Leadership project and working collaboratively with Plan International and all partners to advance its goals.
“Together, we will champion a more inclusive, equitable and just Ghana — one where women and the youth are not only empowered to participate, but are actively shaping, influencing and transforming the social, economic and political systems that affect their lives,” they added.
GNA
Edited by Audrey Dekalu