“The moment you begin to blame the victim, you’re cutting off the most important information that would help tell the truth about the story,” said Eric Ayaba, Head of Programmes at Plan International Ghana, in his opening remarks during a media training session.

The three-day training, themed “Reporting Responsibly on Children, Gender Equality and Vulnerable Communities”, aimed to promote ethical reporting and address issues like sensationalism and stereotyping.

“We see some media people covering vulnerable groups by falling into the trap of sensationalism,” Mr. Ayaba noted, emphasising that such practices limit the opportunity to fully explore important issues.

The training covered essential skills like child-centred reporting, community engagement, and identifying real-life story ideas, aiming to equip journalists with the tools needed to report responsibly.

The Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Ghana Project is funded by Global Affairs Canada and Plan International Canada. It will support up to 120 local and national women’s rights organisations, youth-led organisations, and women human rights defenders through direct grants and capacity development.

Speaking to Joy News during the 2026 media training in Koforidua, held under the theme Journalism with Purpose: Reporting Responsibly on Children, Gender Equality and Vulnerable Communities, Project Manager Theodora Asare described the intervention as timely.

“As of 2022, Ghana ranked 130 out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index and 134 on the Gender Development Index,” she noted. She highlighted that women and girls in Ghana continue to face harmful traditional practices, entrenched gender norms, limited access to education and economic opportunities, and underrepresentation in decision-making spaces.

“Women’s rights movements are key drivers of legal and policy change to address gender inequality, yet only one percent of official development assistance goes to women’s rights organisations worldwide,” she added.

Despite these challenges, Theodora said women’s groups in Ghana have played critical roles in shaping pro-women legislation, including the Domestic Violence Act of 2007, the ratification of the Maputo Protocol, and the Affirmative Action Bill.

The six-year project, running from March 2025 to December 2031, will be implemented in all 16 regions of Ghana. Of the total 9.4 million Canadian dollar budget, 4.5 million Canadian dollars will be allocated directly to grantees. The programme will provide multi-year core funding, fast-response grants, and influencing grants to support advocacy and institutional strengthening.

The ultimate goal, she said, is to increase the enjoyment of human rights by women and girls in all their diversity while advancing gender equality nationwide.

Beyond the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Project, Plan International Ghana continues to implement initiatives such as the Youth Accelerator for Change Project, the Education Outcomes Project, the IPADEV and Soapeya projects, the Digital Skills Project, and the Rooting for Change Project, all aimed at strengthening child protection, youth empowerment, education, and community resilience.

Plan International has operated in Ghana since 1992 and works in more than 80 countries globally, supporting children—particularly the most marginalized—to exercise their rights and reach their full potential.

The launch, held on Friday, May 30, 2025, at the Monarch Hotel in East Legon, Accra, brought together development partners, civil society actors, traditional leaders, and girls from across Ghana’s regions to mark a transition from project to movement.

Speaking at the launch, Project Manager for the She Leads Project, Joyce Obenewaa Darko, said the decision to launch the She Leads Social Movement stems from the overwhelming impact and momentum the project generated since 2021.

“It has been very transformative. We have touched lives and built the capacities of girls across senior high schools and communities,” she said.

She credited the movement’s success to the collaborative work with religious and traditional authorities, whom she described as “champions of change” for using their platforms to promote girls’ leadership and speak out against harmful gender norms.

Darko emphasized that the movement is not only a legacy of the project but a sustainability strategy to ensure that girls’ voices remain strong and unified even beyond donor funding.

“In all our engagements, we were able to mobilize groups from school clubs, community clubs, and regional platforms into a national movement. We believe it is time they come together as one She Leads Social Movement to champion the cause of girls’ rights and women’s leadership,” she explained.

“We see the She Leads Social Movement as a sustainability plan beyond the She Leads Project. The needs of girls will not disappear because a project ends. This movement gives them one big voice to continue advocating for education, equality, and leadership,” she further added.

Madam Joyce also praised the recent passage of Ghana’s Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, which the She Leads Project had actively advocated for. She revealed that the movement would play a role in educating girls and young women about the new law to ensure they are prepared to benefit from the spaces it opens up.

“We contributed to the bill’s passage through petitions, consultations, and by creating spaces for girls to input into the legislative process. We are now working to ensure its implementation by sensitizing women and girls to prepare themselves for the leadership roles it supports,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, Deputy Chief of Staff Nana Oye Bampoe Addo reaffirmed government’s support for the movement, noting: “We are committed not only to listening, but to acting.”

She announced several key government initiatives, including the GH¢51.3 million Women’s Development Bank and the GH¢292.4 million Free Sanitary Pad Initiative, aimed at breaking systemic barriers to girls’ empowerment and inclusion.

Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Wendy Van Mel, applauded the She Leads partners for their coalition-building efforts and celebrated Ghana’s milestone in passing the Affirmative Action law.

She encouraged the next generation to use technology to amplify their advocacy: “The Dutch government remains your reliable partner in advancing gender equality now and in the future.”

The She Leads Social Movement now serves as a unified national platform for over a thousand girls and young women across Ghana to push forward the unfinished agenda of gender equality, inclusive leadership, and protection of girls’ rights.

During Plan International Ghana’s annual media training workshop in Ho, project manager Daniel Selassie revealed that the initiative focuses on three main areas: health, the environment, and economic opportunities.

He explained that the project leverages Safisana Ghana Limited’s waste processing expertise to collect both fiscal and organic waste from the Ashaiman community, converting it into biogas, electricity, and organic fertilizers. These fertilizers are then distributed to local farmers, promoting sustainable agriculture and providing economic benefits.

Selassie emphasized that the project’s impact goes beyond waste management, addressing the root causes of open defecation, air and water pollution, and poor waste management in the community.

“As we improve health by collecting waste and transforming it, we are reducing the challenges tied to waste management and its health implications. We are also improving the environment,” he stated. “Some community members were unaware of how to manage their toilet facilities, and market women struggled to liaise with the Assembly about waste collection. Even the Assembly officials consider this one of the best projects they’ve been involved with,” he added.

To ensure success, the project team engages with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Environment. They also train young people as Sanitation Ambassadors, empowering them to advocate for proper hygiene practices and waste management.

Additionally, the entrepreneurship component provides green skills training for young women and girls, creating economic opportunities.

Demo plots have been established to show the benefits of organic fertilizers, while farmers receive equipment and training to manage their toilet facilities effectively.

Looking to scale the project, the team calls on stakeholders to support their efforts in expanding its impact beyond Ashaiman.

“Globally, around 500 million people struggle with improper waste management, and 1.5 billion are affected by open defecation. We aim to make a significant difference and hope to declare Ashaiman ‘Open Defecation Free’ soon,” Selassie concluded.

Transforming Lives Through Education and Empowerment

One of the most impactful initiatives Plan International Ghana has championed is education. “Education is not just about literacy—it’s a lifeline,” Mr. Tchona said, pointing to cases where education has enabled girls to escape poverty, forced marriages, and abuse.

In addition to education, the organization is investing in skills training, economic empowerment, and healthcare to build resilience among girls. “We are not just fighting for girls to survive—we want them to thrive, lead, and become agents of change in their communities,” he said.

A Call to Action: Uniting Forces for Lasting Impact

Mr. Tchona’s message was clear: gender equality is not just a women’s issue—it’s a societal imperative. He called on policymakers, community leaders, media professionals, and civil society groups to intensify efforts in ensuring that every girl has the right to learn, decide, lead, and thrive.

He urged journalists to adopt a long-term approach in their reporting. “We need storytelling that doesn’t just highlight problems but tracks solutions and measures progress,” he stressed.

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The colorful ceremony took place at the Fiesta Royale Hotel in Accra on Wednesday under the theme: “When Rights Are Realized, Growth Is Inevitable: Lessons and the Legacy of WISE.”

The WISE project, launched in 2020, was initiated by Plan International Ghana and funded by Global Affairs Canada. It was designed to empower women entrepreneurs across five districts in the Bono, Bono East, and Northern regions of Ghana.

The five-year initiative targeted approximately 12,641 direct beneficiaries, focusing on agribusiness and green business development.

In his address, the Country Director, Mr. Constant Tchona, stated that Plan International, a human rights organization, strives to improve the lives of children, young girls, and women who are the most vulnerable in society.

“We go beyond addressing the symptoms of the numerous challenges and explicitly tackle the root causes of gender inequality, particularly unequal power relations and discriminatory social norms,” he said.

Mr. Tchona emphasized the importance of empowering women economically, stating that their rights and potential are pivotal to driving broader economic development.

He highlighted the organization’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8, which focuses on promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

The Project Manager, Theodora Asare, acknowledged that the journey was challenging, especially since it took off during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

“The project recognizes the aspiration and potential of Ghanaian women entrepreneurs. We targeted 12,600, but 14,123 were directly reached, and 5,445 women received support. It was in partnership with 11 Women’s Rights Organizations, five microfinance institutions, three private sector entities, and five government agencies.

“We created 64 child-friendly spaces and refurbished 28 for children under four. The women kept their children at the centers so they could effectively go about their businesses,” she detailed.

However, through resilience and the unwavering dedication of partners, they made it this far. She added that the support of traditional leaders also could not be underestimated.

“We have created market opportunities and directly linked women entrepreneurs to buyers, sensitized communities on business services, and worked with male community leaders, especially around the shared home,” she said.

The Senior Programs Manager, Ashley Dawson, noted that the project wouldn’t have been successful without effective partnerships.

Miss Dawson stressed the need for strong and continued partnerships in an ever-changing and connected world.

She revealed that Global Affairs Canada has, over the past decade, committed CA$22 million to Plan International’s work in Ghana through three projects all aimed at supporting the rights of girls and women.

For the Director and Head of Operations at the Canadian High Commission, Kathleen Flynn Dapaah, such gender-transformational projects have been a success due to the Canadian Feminists International Assistance.

“We believe that gender equality matters and that the empowerment of women is central to ending poverty, promoting prosperity, and peace,” she stated.

On the part of stakeholders, URBANET and the Women Integrated Development Organisation (WIDO), it was with great joy and pride that they saw the successful completion of the project.

They noted that the close-out ceremony was not an end to the project but a celebration of the success of the life-changing initiative that has empowered over 14,000 women.

“We were able to work with traditional leaders to promote gender equality and build solar hubs for the women,” they boasted.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Seth Twum Akwaboah, who was also present, highlighted their pivotal role in the project’s implementation.

Mr. Akwaboah affirmed that AGI believes that women empowerment is key to economic development and therefore mentored 51 selected women and provided them with industry insights and networking opportunities.

On the part of the beneficiaries of the WISE project, it was nothing short of excitement as they boasted of significant improvements in their livelihoods, including enhanced skills in savings, investment, record-keeping, branding, and basic business management.

The project has also established over 500 women’s savings groups to promote a culture of savings among participants.

Below are some photos

The project is a mechanised borehole with a water tank while that of the institutional latrine had changing room for girls, a hand washing facility and a water tank.