Bolgatanga: The Rural Initiative for Self-Empowerment-Ghana (RISE-Ghana), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has convened women leaders in the Upper East Region to foster collaboration, mentorship, and collective growth. The meeting is part of the Heard Everywhere and Represented Daily (HEARD) project, currently being implemented in the Bolgatanga Municipality and Kassena-Nankana District.
According to Ghana News Agency, the project is also being carried out in other districts in the North-East and Upper West Regions by a consortium of NGOs and funded by Norsaac. The gathering brought together women leaders from health, education, politics, and civil society sectors to discuss issues impacting women's development and explore growth potentials.
The event aimed to provide a platform for these women to mentor young women, serve as role models, and promote leadership in governance. Mrs Jaw-Haratu Amadu, Head of Programme Management at RISE-Ghana, stated that the HEARD project seeks to amplify the voices of youth, women, and persons with disabilities at governance levels. She emphasized the importance of mentorship in overcoming challenges and nurturing future leaders.
Mrs Amadu called on social groups, political parties, and associations to embrace gender policies in line with the Affirmative Action Law. Ms Fati Abigail Abdulai, Executive Director of the Widows and Orphans Movement, highlighted the law's requirement for 30 percent representation of women in all sectors from 2024 to 2026, urging women to aspire for various positions.
Ms Abdulai also addressed the issue of stereotyping in governance, calling on civil society organisations to enhance sensitisation efforts to complement the Affirmative Action Law. Madam Mariama Mahama, Nabdam District Director of Health, stressed the importance of competence and hard work, advising women not to let childbearing hinder workplace performance.
Mrs Bride Apania, Upper East Regional President of the Past and Present Assembly Women Association, encouraged young women to acquire skills and higher qualifications to improve their prospects for political appointments and leadership roles.
