Tamale: The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana), in collaboration with AfriYouth, has launched a series of engagements to build and enhance women-led advocacy networks. These initiatives aim to amplify the voices of women in agriculture and trade sectors.
According to Ghana News Agency, these engagements took place in Tamale and were supported by the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) under the project titled 'Strengthening Women's Voice and Leadership in Agricultural Policy and Economic Empowerment'. The project specifically targeted over 600 women trade leaders, including weavers and women in the informal trade sector, across five zones in the Tamale, Sagnarigu, and Savelugu Municipalities.
These training sessions aimed to unite women to form robust regional coalitions, serving as platforms for advocacy, mentorship, and peer support in their quest for economic rights and justice. Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, Executive Director of SWIDA-Ghana, highlighted the significance of equipping women leaders with the skills to influence policies impacting their livelihoods. She remarked on the timeliness of the initiative, which empowers women to engage actively in agricultural and economic decision-making processes.
Hajia Sagito-Saeed also expressed appreciation to AWDF for its continuous funding support, which has been instrumental in advancing agricultural advocacy and women's empowerment in northern Ghana. Mr. Mohammed Gadafi Mandeya, Executive Director of AfriYouth, stressed the importance of the initiative and encouraged participants to leverage the opportunities to enhance their skills, expand networks, and use their collective voices to advocate for equitable policies and resource access.
The training sessions covered crucial areas such as women's rights and economic empowerment, gender-responsive agricultural and trade policies, leadership and negotiation skills, financial literacy, social media marketing, and market access strategies. Discussions also addressed climate-smart agricultural practices, social protection for women in the informal sector, and strategies for building resilience against economic shocks.
As part of the events, mentorship sessions were organized where experienced women entrepreneurs and advocates shared their experiences, challenges, and lessons in leadership and business growth. Safe spaces were created for peer-to-peer exchanges, mentorship, and solidarity, encouraging younger women leaders to step into active roles in traditionally male-dominated areas.
Participants expressed their appreciation to SWIDA-Ghana, AfriYouth, and partners for the training, acknowledging that the engagements enabled them to form stronger coalitions, acquire new advocacy and leadership skills, and establish networks for mentorship and collaboration.
