Women are being encouraged to participate actively in politics to ensure the balance of leadership is achieved across all divides.
This call was echoed at the Town Hall Meeting put together by SWIDA Ghana, under the theme “Promoting Women’s Politcal Participation through Dialogue.”
Organized under the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN), and funded by Canadian Fund for Local Initiative, the Town Hall in Tamale brought together over 130 participants including Traditional Authorities, Parliamentary Candidates, WROs, AWLN members, Assembly persons, Youth groups, students leaders, entrepreneurs, academia and state departments, to learn and share ideas on the importance of women’s participation in politics, the challenges, and solutions.
During her speech at the Town Hall meeting, Executive Director for SWIDA Ghana, facilitator of the event, and member of the AWLN, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed emphasized the need for women to step up and seize the opportunity and not allow for it to be given, as if it were a privilege.
The Executive Director moderated the meeting, including the panel discussion, involving panelists including the independent PC for Tamale North, Hajia Fawziya Hudu, the NPP PC for Garu, Madam Georgia Lardi, Dr Dominic from the UDS, Hajia Alberta Avoka Wuntima, Youth Politician, and Madam Aisha Nimatu, the Regional President for PWDs.
The keynote speech was delivered by the northern regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu, where he urged support for women in politics, as well as outlined the future plans the party his party has on the table for women.
There was also a research presentation at the meeting, which highlighted the reality today about women in politics and what the expectations are of the political system, for women to fit in and participate with less or no hindrances.
The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA – Ghana) has held a Female-empowering conference in Tamale, reflecting on young women becoming better versions of themselves.
The four-day conference which was under the theme “Growing into a Bigger and Better You”, aimed to achieve the following:
• Cultivate leadership skills among women
• Create a powerful network of female leaders
• Address challenges facing women in leadership roles
• Promote gender equality in decision-making processes
Young women from various educational institutions in the Northern Region were represented, with keen participation from especially female students who have been involved in various mentorship activities initiated by SWIDA-Ghana over the years.
Addressing the the participants in her welcome speech, the Executive Director for SWIDA-Ghana, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed said “The aim of the National Female Leadership and Networking Conference is in seeing our young women doing better than ourselves in the coming years “.
The young women who participated in the conference expressed excitement and the zeal to work harder and to engage more in their own ways, to ensure they become better than they have always been.
Various speakers with different backgrounds of training and capacities took turns to address the participants on the need to focus on education and paying attention to materials that support to build their capacities, instead of those that thwart the efforts of stakeholders having interest in their growth and well-being.
Speakers at the event include Mrs. Janet Sunkwa-Mills who was the guest speaker, Bushira Alhassan; NR Director for the Department of Gender, Dr. Naazia Ibrahim; Senior Lecturer (UDS), Alhaji Ibrahim Taimako; Director for BCI, and Abdul Hayi Moomen; Director of Public Affairs (UDS).
Other speakers include Dr. Esther Amoako; Director of Gender, Leadership and Development, Fidelia Duadzie; Resource person on mobilization, partnership and networking, and Faiza Seidu-Adam; Digital Literacy for Women.
After the event which built the capacity of the female participants, certificates of participation were awarded the young women as recognition for their increased commitment to seeing themselves become better women.
Funders of SWIDA-Ghana’s Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) project, under which the National Females Leadership and Networking Conference was organized, expressed the commitment to nurturing the next generation of females to become better leaders than exist today.
The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana) in collaboration with state institutions have been urged to foster partnerships in implementing actions around SDGs 13 and 16 in communities, considering young people as integral to this drive.
Sustainable Development Goals 13 and 16 call for climate action, and peace, justice and strong institutions, respectively.
According to Executive Director for SWIDA-Ghana, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, strong institutions are needed to create the conducive environment for communities to develop, in which young people should be allowed to play a major role, since they are vibrant.
Hajia Alima was speaking at the SHS Climate Innovative Change grand finale, organised by SWIDA-Ghana in collaboration with AfriYouth and Empowerment Centre for Peacebuilding.
She encouraged young people and youth groups to take up issues on climate and development seriously, as that action will contribute to creating the enabling environment for their growth and that of generations yet to come.
The participating youth groups, individuals and state institutions at the program included the Forestry Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Youth Authority, Patrons of the SHSs Clubs and leaders of participating Youth Groups.
The SHS Climate Innovative Change activity is one of the activities by SWIDA-Ghana, under the Embassy of Denmark in Ghana and WANEP, funded by the SDG13/16 Project in Ghana.
The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana), has engaged the Tong and Bagli communities in some homestead activities to help them improve their climatic and social resilience.
The activity, which had young men go through sustainable tree planting techniques such as eye brow and micro trench techniques for tree planting were excited, as they highly participated in the various exercises.
The eye brow and micro trench technologies help to conserve water that provide adequate moisture for the sustenance of the trees.
Other homestead resilience activities implemented were the construction of improved stoves that require minimum fuel for cooking, as it minimizes emission into the atmosphere.
The improved stove also helps in reducing deforestation because of the minimal fuel required by the stove for cooking.
Beneficiary vegetable gardens were also supervised and provided technical agronomic advice as part of building resilience.
By close of the year it is expected that a minimum of 3000 households should have planted at least a mango, moringa, acacia, cashew, orange, pawpaw, and other economic trees, each household should have improve energy consumption stoves, vegetable gardens, hydroponic for ruminants, and other homestead technologies.
The DFAT Project being implemented in communities for sustainable environment and climate resilience in rural communities is funded by the World Food Programme.
The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Gh), has held a Town Hall meeting to deliberate on issues of climate change, and how the youth can play a major role in the issues of climate resilience in the Northern Region.
The Town Hall meeting, which brought together youth groups and major stakeholders, also pushed for clearly spelt out linkages to be made among climate change, democracy and civic responsibilities, especially, of the youth.
The meeting is part of activities under the project “Building Bridges: Empowering Youth as Green Champions for Climate Resilience in Northern Region “.
Various youth groups were represented at the town hall meeting, including members of the Tamale Offline Hangout, leadership of the UDS Central SRC and some students and leadership of the Northern Regional Youth Parliament.
Also present were representatives from the Red Cross Society of Ghana and members of the public.
In her welcome address, the Executive Director for SWIDA-Ghana, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed called on all youth groups present to take the fight on climate change beyond the meeting and put in action to help reduce the effects of climate change on the environment and human activities, including agriculture.
Explaining the main objective of the project, Hajia Alima urged the youth leaders and members to take on leadership by driving the course of governance, holding leadership accountable and ensuring their voices are heard in governance.
“Politicians will tell you what they think you want to hear but let them know what you want to be included in their manifestos. Ask what their interpretation of the SDG 13 is and what are their strategies and plans to see them happen. What change are you bringing with regards to this very crucial and urgent matter of Climate Change?” she said.
Chairperson of the meeting and former Northern Regional Director of Education, Alhaji Haroon Cambodia said the effects of climate change on the weather are alarming and directly affecting even the human body, therefore, all must be included in ensuring the resilience fight is won.
“In all my years in the Northern Region, never have we ever recorded such heat waves; it is unprecedented and we need to be intentional about combating climate change. Once you know the problem and the solution, do something about it”, he said.
The Chief Whip for the Northern Youth Parliament, Abdul Razak in a presentation urged participants to engage in steps towards adaptation to the scourge of climate change, by reducing carbon emissions, advocating for sustainable policies and participating in community efforts aimed at the adaptation drive.
Founder of Girls to Women, Hajia Mariam Iddrisu reassured hope for winning the fight, if all are to play their roles by contributing efforts no matter how small, as SWIDA-Ghana has paved the way with the Town Hall meeting and other activities.
Administrator for the University for Development Studies, Mr. Alhassan Ziblim said climate change is with the environment, therefore, something must be done about it, as he expressed joy to see the youth is taking up the fight and leading.
Two debate motions were set for the day;
Is the Ghanaian Government doing anything to combat climate change issues or is simply doing politics with it by making policies without implementation strategies? and
Are Ghanaians doing enough against climate change?
At the end of the meeting, it was established through the debate teams that the issue of climate change is a serious one and all hands must be on deck to reduce its negative impact on the environment.
It was also clear that governments have not done enough to reduce the negative impact of climate change, therefore, citizens must rise up and seek accountability from leaders, to push them to invest more and push more policies aimed at minimizing the impact.
Executive Director, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed shares her experience on the real life changing consequences of migration due to climate change on women, girls, youth, the very vulnerable and communities in general.
She was speaking in an interview with the Award Winning Climate Change Journalist in Ghana for a feature story Mohammed Fugu.
A two-day workshop has been held in Tamale, aimed at building the capacity of some selected community champions on climate change adaptation and mitigating factors.
The other objective was to introduce participants to some local and international guidelines and key concepts on climate change and how the youth can leverage the guidelines to advocate for the protection of lands and other water bodies in their communities.
The workshop was organized by the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA Ghana), in partnership with the northern regional chapter of Activista Ghana, both NGOs, with funding from the Embassy of Denmark in Ghana.
This activity forms part of the implementation of the project titled “Building Bridges: Empowering Youth as Green Champions for Climate Resilience in Northern Ghana”, which targeted 25 youth groups in the region.
Participants included selected leaders of youth advocacy organizations in Tamale Metro and Sagnarigu and Savelugu Municipalities.
Project Lead for the Building Bridges project, Mr. Oseini Kabiru, speaking during the workshop said this was to empower the youth on how they can actively participate in preserving the natural resources in their communities.
He therefore called on young people to not relent on their efforts to contribute to change regarding climate issues, adding that its impact was posing an existential threat to their overall well-being.
Member of the United Force for Development and Climate Change Reality Fellowship, Mr. Abdul Mumin Yussif, educated participants on some of the national and international frameworks on climate change, as well as how the youth could take advantage of the existing policies to help increase awareness on the issue.
He however encouraged the use of renewable energy, as it helps in reducing carbon emissions and air pollution.
Northern Regional Coordinator for Activista Ghana, Mr. Issahaku Abdul Latif expressed the need for a united voice among young people to help advocate for the implementation of various policies and programmes that best safeguard the environment.
For her part, the Executive Director for SWIDA-Ghana said it was unfortunate that Ghana was signatory to a number of climate change policies but has failed to implement them to enhance the livelihoods of the people.
In response to emerging challenges and the evolving landscape of terrorism threats in the West African sub-region, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of National Security, with funding from Governments of Australia and German, has initiated a comprehensive review of Ghana’s National Framework for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Terrorism (NAFPCVET).
The National Framework, launched in 2019, was devised as a strategic blueprint to combat the spread of Violent Extremism and Terrorism (VET) within Ghana and the broader West African region. However, gaps identified during its implementation necessitated a thorough examination to enhance the nation’s defence against potential terrorist activities.
Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative in Ghana, highlighted the urgency of the review process, considering the shifting global terrorism landscape.
“Addressing issues of inequality, marginalization, access to education and healthcare, promoting economic development in deprived communities, and fostering inter-communal dialogue are critical components of our counter-terrorism strategy,” emphasized Khoshmukhamedov. “As UNDP, we stand ready to support Ghana in implementing these measures to address the underlying drivers of extremism.”
Emmanuel Dadzie, the Technical Director at the Ministry of National Security, emphasized the significance of continuous cooperation among international partners in confronting the global threat of terrorism. He acknowledged the support of UNDP, Australia, and Germany in facilitating the review process, highlighting their commitment to enhancing security cooperation with Ghana.
“The review exercise marks a pivotal moment in shaping the path of change for our security architecture. It is imperative that we evaluate our successes and failures, identify emerging threats, and develop robust measures to safeguard the state against terrorism and violent extremism,” stated Dadzie.
During the review, participants assessed the effectiveness of the NAFPCVET, focusing on its six guiding principles and four strategic pillars: Prevent, Pre-empt, Protect, and Respond. Key objectives included taking stock of existing knowledge on emerging threats, identifying integrated approaches, showcasing good practices, and suggesting ways to strengthen the prospective framework.
Khadijah Abdul Samed, a Communications and Gender Officer at Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA Ghana), shared her insights on the review process, stating, “I am truly impressed by the breadth of perspectives and innovative solutions shared by stakeholders during this review process. Prior to this exercise, my familiarity with the framework was limited, but engaging in these discussions has significantly deepened my understanding. I am particularly pleased with the proposed addition of a monitoring and evaluation component to the framework, as it introduces a cyclical process whereby insights gained can inform and enrich all four pillars of the framework.”
The review process involved key stakeholders from government agencies, international partners, civil society organizations, and academia.
As Ghana remains the only coastal state along the Gulf of Guinea without a terrorist attack, stakeholders recognize the importance of proactive measures to maintain this status. The review process underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing national security and preserving peace and stability in the region.
The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Gh), has secured funding to implement a project on climate action, aimed as the project title indicates, “Building Bridges: Empowering Youth as Green Champions for Climate Resilience in Northern Ghana”.
The climate action project seeks to directly empower 25 youth groups from the Tamale Metropolis and Savelugu and Sagnarigu Municipalities, which youth groups will reach some estimated 1,000 men and women in various communities in the three MMDAs.
Through awareness creation, the project will empower the youth groups and the community members to actively participate in political debates and discussions on climate change, democracy, peace and security.
The main aim of the “Building Bridges: Empowering Youth as Green Champions for Climate Resilience in Northern Ghana” project is to facilitate the formation of alliances and partnerships that help to amplify youth voices and influence advocacy for positive change in Northern Ghana.
SWIDA-Ghana is one of eight CSOs in Ghana, benefiting from the “Danish Support for SDG 13”, funded by the Danish Embassy in Ghana, to enhance capacity and support the efforts of the organization in increasing awareness and engagement, regarding climate change.
Other areas include capacity support for political debates, as well as addressing challenges within democracy, civic space, freedom of speech and human rights.
The “Building Bridges: Empowering Youth as Green Champions for Climate Resilience in Northern Ghana” project, is funded by the Danish Embassy in Ghana and is being managed by the West Africa Network for Peace building (WANEP).
A total of thirty young women have been trained in Tamale by SWIDA-Ghana, in various entrepreneurial skills, aimed at empowering them to be independent.
The training, which was part of take-off activities for the launch of the project “Young Women Entrepreurship and Skills Training”, sought to empower the young women, making them think as entrepreneurship, as they practice their skills to contribute to developing their communities.
The young women were provided training in skill areas including cosmetology, weaving and catering, after which each trainee was given start up tools and items to be able to take off with their practice.
Speaking at the launch of the project and the training, Communications and Gender Officer, Khadijah Abdul Samed said SWIDA-Gh being an organization that champions anything development and empowerment for the woman, felt it was necessary to embark on this project, because many young women have the passion to venture into entrepreneurship, but do not either have the skills or the startup capital in terms of tools.
Miss Khadijah added that if the young woman is provided the skills and the tools she needs to engage in her entrepreneurship work, she will be better positioned to start a healthier family which does not end up being a burden on the state due to lack of parental responsibility, hence, the launch of the project.
Executive Director for SWIDA-Ghana, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, reminded the young women about the responsibilities they have at home, as support systems for their families, which should keep ringing in their heads, to keep pushing them to continue practicing and keep growing after the training.
The training, which is planned to take place within a three-month period, had guardians and parents of the trainees, who together received the startup tools for them to begin.
The three months training is being led and implemented by SWIDA-Ghana with coordination from the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (GTVET) and funded by Plan International Ghana and Canada International Development-Global Affairs Canada.
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