NCCE SUNYANI MUNICIPAL STORMS MARKET ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

The Sunyani Municipal office collaborated with Plan International Ghana and Plan International Canada to carry out awareness creation on activism on gender-based violence.

This was in the form of using an information van mounted with a strong PA system and a combined team of field officers, the WISE team, and NCCE vigorously disseminating gender awareness messages to market folks on one-on-one base interactions. Key messages on gender equality were translated from the English language to Twi/Akan for easy dissemination among the general public.

The programme was undertaken by Ms. Lydia Henewaa (ACEO) and Mr. Derick, a National Service Personnel.

The exercise formed part of implementing the Women’s Innovation for Sustainable Enterprises (WISE) project. The project seeks to improve the social position of women by creating economic opportunities for increased women's control over resources and decision-making at the household and community levels. The objective was to create an opportunity for market folks to have access to information on Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The programme highlighted the significance of women’s contribution to the well-being of families and communities, and the role of men in supporting women to reduce their burden. We called on all and sundry to take the opportunity of this campaign to show support in diverse ways in ending domestic sexual and gender-based violence at all levels.

Some of the messages delivered were based on Women and girls in certain groups such as PWDs, older women, and girls who often face greater difficulty in having their voices heard and accessing support, to change the story, End gender-based violence, and make sure women and men are heard and too often people respond to violence by blaming or shaming victims and hesitate to offer support.