Rural Initiatives for Self-Empowerment (RISE Ghana) as part of the implementation of the HEARD Project, led various youth groups to engage the Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga.
The ‘Heard Everywhere and Represented Daily’ (HEARD) project seeks to amplify the voice and ensure participation and inclusion of the youth, women, and vulnerable groups in the governance processes.
The project is funded by the Northern Sector Action on Awareness Center (NORSAAC) and implemented in partnership with Songtaba, National Youth Authority, and other organizations.
This has seen RISE Ghana train the youth, women, and persons with disabilities in Bolgatanga and other areas on the local governance processes, the need to hold leaders accountable, and how to take part in decision-making.
The Friday, November 22, engagement with the Municipal Chief Executive for Bolgatanga, Rex Asanga, and other unit heads of the assembly was therefore to practicalize the training given to the youth as they have access to the assembly to engage on issues affecting vulnerable persons, youth and women in the Municipality.
Speaking at the engagement, Jawharatu Amadu, a Program Manager with RISE Ghana, explained that her outfit is concerned about the inclusion of the youth, persons with disability, and women in the governance of the assembly hence the engagement.
“We are today as youth groups and associations in the Bolgatanga Municipality that are concerned about the development of the Municipality but more concerned about the inclusion of the youth, persons with disability and other groups in the governance of the municipal assembly that is why we said we would want your attention to understand issues of the Municipality better.” She stated.
Clerk of the Bolgatanga Youth Parliament, Justice Anona, called on the assembly to consider appointing members of the youth parliament, women, and persons with disability to be represented at the assembly as part of the window given for the appointment of some members.
“We want to see how the youth, women, and persons with disability can also participate in the budget hearing and the assembly meetings. The assembly makes appointments so we want to plead that the youth from the youth parliament, the women groups, and persons with disability can be included in the appointments.” He stressed.
Receiving the youth groups, the MCE, Mr. Asanga acknowledged the need to include the youth, women, and persons with disabilities in the governance processes. He added that the appointment of the youth should be considered strongly adding, that the current crop of appointees is youthful.
The MCE at the engagement, outlined various interventions by the Assembly and government to improve the lives of residents.
The groups subsequently engaged with the department of agriculture to explore ways they could rely on the sector for job creation.
