In Sunyani, the Global Media Foundation (GLoMeF), a human rights and media advocacy NGO, has emphasized the importance of enhancing women and girls' participation in decision-making processes at both community and household levels. This call was made by Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Founder and CEO of GLoMeF, which is dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable and underprivileged groups.
According to Ghana News Agency, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), GLoMeF, alongside its partners including Plan Ghana International and other civil society organizations, is actively working to address crucial social issues. These efforts encompass promoting quality education and health, combating poverty, and tackling forced and child marriages. He highlighted the pressing need to prioritize the empowerment of women and girls, enabling them to have a say in decisions that impact their lives within their communities and homes.
The advocacy for women's participation in decision-making was part of a series of local-level sessions held in farming communities such as Nwowasu, Yawsae, Sofokrom, Keyeremehkrom, and Kyerebogya in the Sunyani Municipality. These sessions, organized by GLoMeF under the 'Women's Innovation for Sustainable Enterprises' (WISE) project, supported by Plan Ghana International and funded by Global Affairs Canada, aimed to raise awareness among approximately 1500 men and community members about women's rights and the significance of their involvement in household and community decision-making.
The WISE project, which is in its final year of a four-year term, is a collaborative effort with other NGOs, including URBANET and WIDO. It focuses on enhancing the economic empowerment and well-being of women in Ghana, contributing to inclusive economic growth. The project emphasizes the importance of women's decision-making power in both household and community contexts.
Madam Rose Aawulenaa, the WISE Project Manager, elaborated on the project's objectives. She described WISE as an initiative that aims to promote innovative, integrated, and gender-transformative business services. It seeks to improve women's agency in economic participation, thereby increasing their productivity, profitability, and innovation. Mad Aawulena stressed the need to abolish the practice of making decisions without involving women at the household and community levels.