Sirigu: The Sirigu Women's Organisation for Pottery and Arts (SWOPA), a non-governmental organisation, has commenced a project aimed at building the capacity of women to lead peacebuilding efforts in their communities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the project, supported by STAR Ghana Foundation, is funded by a US$2,000.00 grant from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) under its Carol Bellamy Leaders Award. The primary goal is to enhance the ability of women and other vulnerable groups to play vital roles in maintaining peace, resolving conflicts, and countering threats of violent extremism from the Sahelian region.
The three-month initiative will conduct peacebuilding training at various levels within the communities to equip women to act as peace agents and ambassadors, thereby fostering social cohesion. Additionally, the project will offer alternative livelihood training in areas like soap and pastry making to economically empower women, thus reducing poverty and strengthening their resilience against the temptations and false promises of violent extremists.
This project, the first of its kind in Ghana, benefits women from Sirigu, Kandiga, Doba, and the Fulbe community in Navrongo and Paga, all located in the Kassena-Nankana area. Mr Frederick Nuuri-Teg, Northern Ghana Projects Manager at STAR Ghana Foundation, highlighted the project's aim to build community resilience and inclusiveness for conflict prevention and countering violent extremism during a training session for community representatives in Sirigu.
He emphasized that women are natural peace brokers within communities but are often overlooked, and this project seeks to harness their potential to enhance social cohesion and prevent the infiltration of violent extremism. He also noted the strategic importance of the Upper East Region, which shares a border with Burkina Faso and faces threats from the Sahel region.
Madam Bridget Adongo Akasise, Manager of SWOPA, stated that the project inclusively brings together women from various communities, including minority groups such as the Fulbe and refugees, to build peace and resilience for sustainable development. She highlighted SWOPA's past successes in peacebuilding and expressed confidence that the current project would further strengthen their efforts.
Mr Ali Anankpieng, Upper East Regional Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, trained the women on radicalisation and the operations of violent extremists. He encouraged them to play a critical role in countering extremists' false narratives.
Participants like Madam Martha Akawegre from the Kandiga community and Ms Ashetu Adama from the Fulbe community in Paga expressed appreciation for the project, emphasizing its empowerment to promote peace and foster peaceful coexistence within their areas.
