Tamale: The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana), a non-governmental organization, has been praised for its successful implementation of a project designed to enhance the involvement of marginalised communities in electoral and governance processes.

According to Ghana News Agency, the project, titled 'Empowering the Excluded for Increased Participation in Elections and Governance Processes in Northern Ghana', specifically targeted Fulbe communities, women, and youth across five districts in the Northern Region and four districts in the Savannah Region. The districts benefiting from this initiative included Tamale Metropolis, Sagnarigu, Savelugu, Kumbungu, Tolon, West Gonja, Central Gonja, North Gonja, and Sawla-Tuna-Kalba.

Implemented from October of last year to March of this year, the project was supported by funding from STAR Ghana Foundation and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. It involved various advocacy and capacity-building activities aimed at promoting inclusive governance, fundamental human rights, and electoral processes. The project successfully trained over 200 individuals from marginalized groups on election-related issues, political party manifestos, and advocacy strategies. Furthermore, coalition groups were formed to enhance awareness and inclusivity.

During the project's close-out ceremony in Tamale, Mr. Yahaya Mohammed, Northern Regional President of the Fulbe Youth Association, highlighted the positive impact on Fulbe communities. He noted that the project educated Fulbe communities about their rights and responsibilities and connected them with key stakeholders interested in their welfare. He cited the National Identification Authority's initiative to register some members for the Ghana Card as a vital step towards inclusive governance. Mr. Mohammed emphasized the need for the continuation of the project to further strengthen the fundamental human rights of the Fulbe people.

Mr. Mohammed Abdulai Awal, Northern Regional Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations, acknowledged the project's significant impact on persons with disabilities. He mentioned that the training received enabled many to vote independently in the last elections and provided them with advocacy skills to present their challenges to political parties.

Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, Executive Director of SWIDA-Ghana, expressed satisfaction with the project's outcomes and emphasized the importance of ensuring sustained participation of excluded social groups in governance. She encouraged beneficiary communities to continue advocating for their rights to promote overall development.