By Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo
The Upper West Regional Programme Manager of ActionAid Ghana, Madam Abiba Nibaradun, has reiterated the necessity for all progressive forces to work hard and ensure that women and girls are given equal opportunity to build their capacities as well as strengthen their capacity to learn, earn and lead.
She was speaking at an event organised by MEDA Grow2 and ActionAid Ghana to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day at Lawra in the Upper West Region.
GBC’s Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo in this piece says the event which attracted women from various fields was also used by men who are Gender Equality Champions to showcase their cooking skills. Madam Abiba Nibaradun said ActionAid Ghana, over the last five years, has implemented some key interventions at various levels to showcase how women are mobilised and invested in, to accelerate progress in Ghana, and to highlight some of the initiatives.
“The provision of childcare centres in Naawie, Nindorwala, Gbare, and Tizaa communities reduced women’s childcare burden and encouraged them to engage in meaningful economic ventures. Over 1000 women benefited from various skills trainings and were equipped with sustainable livelihood interventions in the form of soap making, pastries, rabbitry, beekeeping, and shea butter processing, among others,” Madam Nibaradun stated.
The Queenmother of Gbengbee, Pognaa Agnes Tang Ziem, stressed the need for women to be educated and supported so they can up their game as shapers of society.
The Budget Officer of the Lawra Municipal Assembly, Nelson Yiryel, who deputised for the Municipal Chief Executive, Jacob Dery, indicated that the Assembly has prioritised women in all initiatives in the Municipality, saying “the interest of women has taken a centre-stage in the implementation of the Ghana Productive Safety Net Programme (GPNSP) as well as the Gulf of Guinea Northern Ghana Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project.
The Deputy Project Manager for MEDA Grow2, Elvis B. Appiah-Kusi, observed that the celebration of the day is an opportunity to review the progress made in respect of women’s empowerment and to restrategize to help them achieve their full potential.
He indicated, “Grow2 as a project has the goal of increasing the social and economic advancement of women in Northern Ghana.”
Mr Appiah-Kusi also said, “through our innovation fund, we have invested up to 3.5 million Ghana Cedis to support women to acquire technologies that increase productivity.”
The Upper West Regional Director of the Department of Women, Madam Charity Batuure, called on development partners and interest groups to be intentional about issues of women.
