Women, PwDs empowered to influence local governance in Northern Region

A total of 50 women leaders and persons with disabilities (PwDs) from the Nanumba South, Kumbungu, and Mion Districts have benefited from a leadership and governance training aimed at strengthening their participation in local decision-making processes.

The two-day training, organised by the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana) under the Strengthening Investments in Gender-Responsive Climate Adaptation (SIGRA) project, is to build the knowledge and confidence of women and PwDs to effectively engage in upcoming District Assemblies’ budget consultations and other governance activities.

The SIGRA project is funded by Co-Water International and Global Affairs Canada.

Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, Executive Director, SWIDA-Ghana, speaking at the training, said it reflected the organisation’s long-standing commitment to empowering vulnerable groups including women, girls, and PwDs to champion inclusive governance and development.

She reiterated the critical role of women’s voices in promoting gender-responsive budgeting and inclusive decision-making.

Alhaji Imoro Yakubu Kakpagu, District Executive for Kumbungu District, who was represented at the event, said the training was timely because the Assembly was finalising its Medium-Term Development Plan and that citizens, especially women, and PwDs’ inputs were critical to ensuring inclusivity.

Mr Mohammed Saani Ibrahim, Nanumba South District Planning Officer, lauded SWIDA-Ghana, and its partners for their efforts in empowering women and PwDs to actively engage with governance structures and said such initiatives promoted accountability and inclusiveness.

He said, “Women’s perspectives are essential in shaping district development priorities. When women are informed and confident to engage, the entire community benefits.”

Mr Fuseini Karim, Assistant Director, Mion District Assembly, also praised the initiative and urged participants to take the training seriously, emphasizing that effective participation began with knowledge.

He said, “This knowledge will help women make their voices count during budget discussions and development planning.”

Participants were taken through the structure and functions of the District Assembly system and were introduced to strategies for effective participation in planning and budgeting processes.

They also explored how to engage duty bearers and demand accountability.

Group discussions, simulations, and experience sharing sessions helped boost their confidence to represent their communities in local decision-making spaces.

The training formed part of efforts by SWIDA-Ghana and the SIGRA project to promote inclusive governance and empower women and marginalized groups to influence local development and climate adaptation initiatives.

Source: GNA