In a historic victory for gender equality, a new era of leadership has dawned in the Goefe Electoral Area in the Adaklu district of the Volta region. For the first time in the community’s history in 2023, women actively contested for assembly positions, with two of them successfully securing Unit Committee seats. This groundbreaking achievement is a direct result of the Action for Voice, Influence and Inclusive Development (AVID) Project, an initiative by GLOWA.
Prior to the project’s initiation, the community of Goefe had a long-standing tradition where local elections were considered an exclusive domain for men. However, through the “We Matter! Empowering Rural Women and PWD constituents to take positive actions to participate actively in local governance processes for improved livelihood” activity, sponsored by the Flora and Hewlett Foundation through STAR-Ghana Foundation, GLOWA provided vital capacity-building and sensitization training. This intervention empowered women to challenge the status quo and see themselves as capable leaders.
Jubilant Yevu, a trailblazer in her own right, was the first woman to contest for the assemblywoman position. Though she did not win, her courage paved the way for others. “What gave me the courage to contest is that in the olden days, we thought going to the assembly was the duty of only men,” she shared, adding that GLOWA’s teachings showed her that women could also lead. Her effort inspired three other women to run for various positions, leading to the successful election of Justine Amenuve Morkporkpor and Ivy Amegboe as Unit Committee members.
The impact of the AVID project extends beyond electoral success. It has fostered an environment of equality where women are now empowered to speak at meetings and engage in community decision-making.
