Calls for an end to negative perception of gender roles in Northern Ghana have intensified as Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana (YHFG), a non-governmental organization is embarking on community sensitization exercises to create awareness among community leaders and members on the need to involve girls and women in decision making.
Speaking at a sensitization program at Sakoti, a community in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region, Project Officer for Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana, Abigail Adumolga, said her outfit is implemented the Women voice and leadership project in Bongo and Nabdam districts dubbed “Pogmenka Network.”
The project according to her, seeks to reduce gender inequality through an increased participation of girls and Women in decision making in the Upper East Region.
“We will be looking at sensitizing the community members on gender inequalities, gender role analysis, child marriage and then on teenage pregnancy issues. So we are targeting the entire community. When it comes to the direct beneficiaries under the ‘Pokmeka network’ we are working with 30 young ladies aged between 15 and 30 years.”
“We will be training them, the training will take place next year and it will be basically soap making, some will be doing pastries; generally per their interest. We are not forcing any skill on them but base on what they want, that’s what they will be trained on.” She explained.
Beneficiaries and other community members who participated in the sensitization exercise held placards with inscriptions such as; “hear our voice to change the future”, “Girls at the center stage in decision making and empower girls promote gender inequality.”
Speaking to A1 News, they expressed their excitement for being part of project.
The ‘Pogmenka Network’ is a project funded by Plan International through Global Affairs Canada.
Assembly Member for Benzure Electoral Area, Kurug Roland, on behalf of the opinion leaders of the area thanked YHFG for implementing the initiative at the Sakoti community; adding that it is a project that will go a long way to help the community especially the Women.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHZ|David Azure|Ghana
