The Upper East Region has observed the International Day of Rural Women, recognizing the significant contributions of women to food security, nutrition, and livelihood empowerment.
The event featured a policy dialogue organized by USAID implementing partners, including the Poly LINK Activity, Ghana Mobilizing Finance in Agriculture Activity, Ghana Trade and Investment Activity, Market Systems and Resilience (MSR) Activity, Resilience in Northern Ghana Systems Strengthening Activity, and the Ghana Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Platform Activity.
The forum provided rural women with a platform to share knowledge and connect with private entities that could support their businesses. Several participants were introduced to new entrepreneurial initiatives aimed at empowering them to expand their businesses and gain better access to essential agricultural services.
Zenabu Abdulai, Director for Resilience and Social Inclusion at MSR, mentioned her outfit’s efforts to empower rural women through various entrepreneurial initiatives.
These initiatives she said focus on providing access to tractor services, fertilizers, and seeds to boost agricultural productivity. By promoting the adoption of best practices, Madam Zenabu added that the initiative aims to help rural women meet growing food demands and tackle some of the challenges they face, such as limited access to markets, agricultural services, and modern technology.
Madam Zenabu also emphasized the importance of enforcing key legislative frameworks such as the Affirmative Action Act 2024 and the Land Act 2020. She called on government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and other collaborators to ensure that the provisions in these Acts are communicated effectively to the public and properly enforced.
The dialogue was themed “Cultivating a Brighter Future: Empowering Rural Women through Affirmative Action and Land Rights,” underscoring the need to address the structural barriers faced by rural women.
Hajia Lamnatu Adam, Executive Director of Songtaba, one of MSR’s partners, applauded rural women for their indispensable role in ensuring food security despite challenges such as limited access to productive lands. She urged stakeholders to support women’s involvement in decision-making spaces and build their capacity to become economically self-sufficient.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga
