By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, Dec 9, GNA – Young women leaders, social media Influencers and Women Commissioners from tertiary institutions have received training on digital safety and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) to strengthen their roles in raising awareness and combating online abuse within their communities.
The training, held in Tamale, was organized by the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana), an NGO, under the KASA Project with support from the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF).
It was facilitated by a consortium of organisations working in the SGBV space, including Savanna Signatures, CAMFED Association, the Young Urban Women’s Movement, Activista Ghana and the SHE+ Platform, among others.
The workshop sought to equip social media Influencers and young women leaders with practical digital safety skills while also emphasizing the roles of schools, community leaders and Influencers in safeguarding young people online and promoting collective action against digital abuse.
Miss Fatimata Abdul-Rasheed, Gender Officer at SWIDA-Ghana, who facilitated the training in Tamale, took participants through various forms of digital abuse, digital safety practices, and the legal provisions that protected victims of online harm under Ghana’s Cyber Security Act, 2020 (Act 1038).
She explained that digital abuse such as threats, stalking, impersonation, intimate image misuse and online harassment continued to rise, particularly among young women, who were highly active on social media.
She said, “Many young women face online harm daily. Understanding our digital environment, protecting ourselves and knowing where to report incidents are critical in addressing SGBV in today’s technology-driven world.”
Participants were introduced to reporting channels such as the Cyber Security Authority’s helpline (292), WhatsApp reporting line, online portal, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service as well as reporting tools available on major social media platforms.
Miss Abdul-Rasheed further guided the group to develop community action plans to tackle digital abuse, promote safer online practices and support survivors within their networks.
Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, Executive Director of SWIDA-Ghana, said the training formed part of activities marking this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, noting that online violence had become one of the fastest growing threats to young women and girls.
She said, “We organized this training because young women and girls today carry huge influence online. They lead conversations, shape opinions and mobilize communities. If they understand digital safety and the laws, they can protect themselves and also champion safer online spaces for others. Strengthening their voice is key to ending all forms of GBV, offline and online.”
Miss Nafisah Issaka Yahaya, Women Commissioner for the Ghana Association of Public Health Students at the University for Development Studies, described the training as timely and empowering.
She said, “Many of us use social media daily without fully understanding the risks. I now know how to protect myself, support victims and promote responsible digital behaviour. We will take this knowledge back to campus and help educate more students.”
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Christian Akorlie