The Ghana Chapter of a five-year global initiative, “Power to You(th)” has achieved zero child marriages in over 80 per cent of 40 targeted communities in the country.
The programme was undertaken in the Upper East, Savannah, North East, and the Northern regions in 10 districts and 40 communities, with the Greater Accra Region serving as a policy-influencing region.
The four beneficiary regions formed part of the top six regions in the country that recorded high rates of teenage pregnancies, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBVs) and other harmful practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Kayaye (Head porters), early and forced marriages, widowhood rites and exchange marriages.
The programme is aimed at empowering adolescent girls and young women in underserved communities to be involved in decision-making regarding such harmful practices.
Implemented by a consortium, namely Norsaac, Ghana SRHR Alliance for Young People (GH-Alliance) and Songtaba, more than 30,000 young people have been engaged.
The €3.2 million initiative was funded by the Netherlands Embassy and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with support from global and local partners.
Closing ceremony
At a closing ceremony for the programme in Accra yesterday, September 26, the Executive Director of Norsaac, Mohammed Awal Alhassan, cited other successes, including over 70 active youth platforms leading change, as well as impactful collaboration of over 100 civil society organisations (CSOs).
Speaking on the theme: “A Journey of Change: Honouring Girls, Youth and Partnerships”, Mr Alhassan said the programme used innovative models such as the Model Gendered Household, Legal Literacy Volunteers, Safe Spaces, Youth Innovation Grants, and the Moments of Youth framework, which have shown that placing young people at the centre of design and implementation makes an impact.
He expressed confidence that the programme would open a new chapter where youth-centred strategies become part of national systems.
“They are not simply projects; they are pathways for institutionalisation and scale, offering sustainable approaches to protecting and empowering adolescent girls and young women,” he said.
Youth investment
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, Mohammed Saani Adams, called on the country to promote inclusive growth and development, particularly in the northern regions.
He said the country must increase investment in youth development as 37 per cent of the country's population is between 15 and 35, but it only has a two per cent GDP allocation for youth development as compared to Europe's 35 per cent and Asia's 26 per cent.
He called for a legislative framework that aligned with societal realities to address issues such as domestic violence and unintended pregnancies.
Mr Adams further called for better coordination among development partners to ensure effective youth development and empowerment.
Youth opportunity
In a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Director in charge of the Domestic Violence Secretariat, Malonin Asibi, said the youth should not wait to be leaders of the future, but be given opportunities now to become responsible leaders.
She added that they must be given the skills to contribute meaningfully to national development.
She thanked the partners for their support in the successful implementation of the programme.
“We extend sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, funders of this programme through Rutgers, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
We equally recognise UNICEF and UNFPA for their immense support for the programme,” she said.
