Plan International Ghana in partnership with Songtaba, both non-governmental organistions (NGO) working to secure the rights of girls and young women has launched a project in the East Mamprusi Municipality to promote, increase and sustained girls and young women participation in decision-making processes at all levels of the society.

Dubbed: “She Leads”, the project apart from empowering young women and girls to participate actively in decision-making and take up leadership roles in their schools and communities will also bring on board boys, men, parents, chiefs, queens and role models to promote social norm change and attitudes in favour of girls and young women in their families and communities.

The project

The “She leads” project aside the North East region is being implemented by Plan International Ghana and two other consortium of organisations and their local partners in other five regions.

The other regions are Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western North, Central and Upper West regions.

The project, which started this year will end in 2025.

In the North East region, it is being implemented by Plan International Ghana in partnership with Songtaba.
Empowering girls/young women to lead

Speaking at the launch at Gambaga, the capital of the East Mamprusi Municipality last Thursday, the Project Manager for Plan International Ghana, Ms Anna N Nabere said the goal of the project was to increase sustained influence of girls and young women in decision-making and the transformation of gender norms in formal and informal institutions.

She said the project has three areas that it will focus on to achieve increased acceptance of girls and young women’s leadership and inclusion in decision-making at all levels, enhance their collective action in a gender-responsive civil society and enable their meaningful participation in decision-making by government and political institutions.

Ms Nabere called on all stakeholders in the North East region to rally behind Plan International Ghana and Songtaba to make a difference in the lives of girls and young women for the betterment of the families, communities and the country as a whole.

Change of mindset

The Northern Sector Manager of Plan International Ghana, Mr Eric Ayaba on his part said the project forms part of the organization’s entry into the North East region with the broader objective to “transform mindsets and power relations to support girls and young women to attain equity in Ghana”

The Executive Director of Songtaba, the local implementing partner for the project, Hajia Lamnatu Adam called for the removal of systemic barriers that limited the participation of girls and young women in decision-making processes at all levels in the society.

“She Leads” Country Coordinator, Ms Lydia Owusua Agyakwa called on traditional authorities, religious leaders, parents and community members to encourage girls to aspire to higher positions in life, adding that the project sought to build the capacity to be confident, assertive and speak up in a polite manner.

The acting Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for East Mamprusi, Mr Danladi Abdul Nashiru who launched the project pledged the support of the assembly for its successful implementation, saying when girls and young women were empowered in the society it would help drive the socio-economic development of the country.