By Caleb Kuleke, GNA
Ho, Aug. 02, GNA – Some queen mothers and community leaders including Nigerians in the Volta Region, have completed a two-day intensive workshop designed to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) among immigrant populations.
The training session focused on practical GBV interventions, and equipped participants with foundational caregiving skills and comprehensive knowledge of the dynamics involving such issues.
By empowering queenmothers and community leaders to serve as first responders, the initiative aims to strengthen community-led response frameworks and ensure vulnerable migrants receive effective, timely support.
The training is based on research regarding gender-based violence (GBV) as experienced among migrants and the role of community leaders in supporting survivors.
This study was conducted by Professor Peace Adzo Medie, a Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Bristol (UK), in collaboration with the University of Ghana’s Professor Nana Akua Anyidoho and Dr Ekua Ekunah.
The research used a narrative methodology to analyse the experiences of female immigrants, specifically focusing on Nigerians in Ghana and their help-seeking behaviors regarding intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence.
A key focus of the initiative involved the use of creative approaches, including play and comic strips based on short stories by Professor Medie, and engagement with queenmothers and community leaders, to create localised justice and support pathways.
Prof. Medie, told Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the research was conducted in Greater Accra and Ho under the title: “Migrants, Queenmothers and Gender-Based Violence in Ghana.”
She said over 200 Nigerian immigrants were interviewed during the process, with 45 of them reporting experiencing either intimate partner or non-partner sexual violence.
Prof. Medie said queenmothers and community leaders played a critical role including dispute mediation, psychosocial support, and protection of vulnerable persons including migrants’ populations in their localities.
She said migrants experiencing GBV often faced barriers such as stigma, fear of retaliation, limited social support, language difficulties, lack of documentation, economic dependency, and poor knowledge of available services.
Prof. Medie said queenmothers and community leaders were ideally positioned to provide first-line psychosocial support, facilitate referrals, and mobilise community protection responses because of their cultural authority and trusted status.
She stated that the training aimed to strengthen the capacity of queenmothers and community leaders to recognise, respond appropriately to, and refer migrants facing GBV through culturally responsive, ethical, and supportive helping approaches.
Dr Angela Dwamena Aboagye, a trainer at the programme told the GNA that building the capacity of queenmothers and community leaders was vital to strengthen GBV protection mechanisms for vulnerable migrants.
Dr Aboagye who is also the Executive Director of The Ark Foundation, stated that the training would also equip the participants to respond empathetically to immigrant GBV survivors, who often lacked family and community support.
Mama Attrato II, the Queen of Ho-Dome, urged migrants in Ho, to establish relationships with community leaders, ensuring formal recognition, so they could receive swift support when challenges arose.
She described the training as a step forward, emphasising that empowering queenmothers who were vital community pillars was essential for protecting vulnerable migrants from GBV.
Chief Otunba Moshood Issifu, the Leader of the Yoruba community at Ho, commended the training organisers and called on Nigerian immigrants, to strictly obey the country’s laws.
The training covered Ghana’s GBV legal and response frameworks, institutional referral pathways, counseling skills, and ethical survivor support.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/ Christabel Addo