By Solomon Gumah, GNA
Tamale, June 08, GNA – An initiative targeted at advancing institutional strength, leadership, protection and inclusion for sustainable development has been launched in the Northern Region to empower women, girls, youth and persons with disabilities to actively participate in decision-making processes.
The project, dubbed: “EMPOWERHER: Advancing Institutional Strength, Leadership, Protection and Inclusion for Sustainable Impact”, is being implemented by the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana) in partnership with Plan International Ghana and funded by Global Affairs Canada under the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) project.
The project is expected to directly benefit about 1,660 people comprising 600 women, 500 youth, 200 girls and 50 persons with disabilities among other indirect beneficiaries within the targeted communities.
The intervention would be implemented in selected communities within the Tamale and Sagnarigu Municipalities including Sorugu, Damankuyili, Bilpela and Kalariga.
Ms Fatimata Abdul-Rasheed, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Officer and Project Lead, who presented the overview of the project, said gender inequality, rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), limited leadership opportunities and economic exclusion continued to affect women, girls and youth in Northern Ghana.
She noted that these challenges underscored the need for stronger community systems, enhanced leadership capacities and effective protection mechanisms to safeguard vulnerable groups and promote inclusive development.
Ms Abdul-Rasheed explained that the project sought to increase the participation of women, youth, girls and persons with disabilities in decision-making at household, school, community and district levels by 2028.
She said the project is intended to strengthen institutional capacity, build leadership and advocacy skills among women, youth, girls and persons with disabilities, increase awareness on SGBV and promote positive gender masculinities as well as enhance, prevent, protect accountability mechanisms against SGBV.
Ms Abdul-Rasheed said one of the major intervention areas of the project would focus on organisational strengthening through governance and leadership training, gender-responsive monitoring, evaluation, research and learning (MERL) training, advocacy and resource mobilisation, capacity building, as well as operational equipment support.
She expressed confidence that by 2028, the project would contribute to improved leadership and agency among women and girls, stronger community action against SGBV, increased participation of women in decision-making processes and more responsive institutions and referral systems for handling SGBV cases.
The Project Lead emphasised the importance of partnerships in achieving the project’s objectives and indicated that the initiative would collaborate closely with schools, the Ghana Education Service (GES), community leaders, civil society organisations, women’s groups, youth groups and relevant government institutions.
She added that special attention would be given to women, girls, Fulbe communities, persons with disabilities and youth, to ensure that no one was left behind in the development process.
Mr Peter Mintir Amadu, Lecturer at the University for Development Studies, and Executive Director of the Total Life Enhancement Centre Ghana (TOLECGH), commended SWIDA-Ghana and its partners for championing the initiative and described it as a timely intervention that would help address persistent inequalities affecting women and vulnerable groups.
He stressed the need for collective action among stakeholders to create safe, inclusive and enabling environments where women and girls could realise their full potential and contribute meaningfully to community development.
Mrs Sahadatu Abubakari Nima, Northern Regional President of the Federation of Disability Organisations, also lauded the project’s commitment to disability inclusion.
She called for sustained efforts to remove barriers that limited the participation of persons with disabilities in leadership and development processes, urging institutions and communities to embrace inclusive practices that promoted equal opportunities for all.
Participants at the event expressed optimism that the project would strengthen local capacities, promote gender equality and contribute significantly to reducing incidents of gender-based violence in the beneficiary communities.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Benjamin Mensah