Tamale: The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana), a non-governmental organization dedicated to the empowerment of women and girls, has launched five new social safe spaces in Tamale. These spaces aim to protect the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) of vulnerable groups, including women, girls, and persons with disabilities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the initiative is supported by the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) and is part of the KASA project. It aims to offer secure and empowering environments where beneficiaries can access psychosocial support to manage issues related to their reproductive health and rights.
The five safe spaces are located at the Total Life Enhancement Centre in Tamale (TOLECGH), Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), Choggu Health Centre, Bilpeila Health Centre, and in Walewale in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region. The theme of the launch event was 'Creating Safe Spaces for Healing, Growth, and Development'. It was attended by representatives from various partnering organizations, including PPAG, Golden Inspire Foundation (GIF - Ghana), TOLECGH, Gender and Career Mentorship at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Girls Empowerment Mission (GEM - Ghana), Tiyumba Hope Foundation, and Centre for Opportunities and Rural Development (CORD-Ghana), who shared experiences and advocated for measures to sustain the initiative.
The establishment of these safe spaces is designed to complement existing centers to ensure broader access to reproductive health information and to protect fundamental human rights. Hajia Alima Sagito Saeed, Executive Director of SWIDA-Ghana, stated that the creation of these spaces responds to the need for community-based support systems that uphold human dignity and promote gender equity. She emphasized that the spaces are more than physical structures, serving as platforms for healing, empowerment, and advocacy.
The safe spaces are youth-friendly, inclusive, and equipped to assist survivors of gender-based violence. They are staffed with trained social workers and counselors, strategically located for accessibility while ensuring confidentiality for victims. Hajia Saeed encouraged gender-based violence victims and other vulnerable groups to utilize the initiative to safeguard their rights and access reproductive health and wellness.
Mr. Adam Azabre Abugbila, PPAG Project Coordinator, Northern Zone, praised the initiative, noting its alignment with Ghana's national development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 3, 5, and 10. He highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in addressing inequalities and building resilience among vulnerable groups.
Mrs. Shahadu Nima Abubakar, Northern Regional President of the Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD), commended SWIDA-Ghana and partners for their commitment to supporting vulnerable groups. She expressed concerns about the abuse faced by GFD members and hoped the initiative would reverse such trends, offering platforms for psychosocial support. Mrs. Abubakar urged SWIDA-Ghana and other organizations to establish separate safe spaces for persons with disabilities to prevent stigma and marginalization.
Representatives from various organizations at the launch expressed optimism about the initiative's potential to improve access to reproductive health rights and preserve the dignity of vulnerable groups. The initiative is part of a broader social inclusion strategy targeting areas with limited access to protection and support services.
As Northern Ghana continues to address issues such as poverty, early marriage, sexual and gender-based violence, and exclusion, stakeholders believe these safe spaces will become vital lifelines for many striving for better lives.
