Savelugu Municipality, Northern Region – Tungteiya Women's Association, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has organized a Gender Model Family (GMF) summit in the Bunglung community, Savelugu Municipality, Northern Region.
The initiative aims to foster equitable relationships between husbands and wives by encouraging shared responsibilities for household chores.
The GMF summit, conducted under the Women Economic Advancement for Collective Transformation (WEACT) project, is supported by Oxfam in Ghana and its partner Norsacc.
The WEACT project is a five-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada through Oxfam Quebec. Its primary objective is to address systemic barriers to women's economic empowerment.
The GMF summit identified and recognized outstanding GMFs, focusing on honouring them while advocating for the equitable distribution of household responsibilities within the wider community as part of the influencing component of the WEACT project.
Mr. Hudu Abdallah, Project Officer of Tungteiya Women's Association, highlighted that the WEACT gender analysis and baseline report revealed disparities in power dynamics among GMF couples, with women facing disadvantages concerning resource access, control, participation, decision-making, and leadership.
The GMF approach seeks to challenge discriminatory gender norms, empower women, and establish role-model families by engaging both spouses as agents of change.
Abdallah encouraged participants to persist in their efforts to gain economic and social independence within their homes and the broader community.
Madam Fati Alhassan, Gender Officer at Oxfam in Ghana, urged women to apply the skills they've acquired to transform their lives and support their husbands in childcare responsibilities.
Mr Felix Quartey, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor at Norsaac, encouraged men to actively participate in domestic roles to cultivate healthier family dynamics in the northern sector.
Women who had undergone training as part of the GMF program shared their experiences and how they have implemented their newfound knowledge in their households and businesses.
Most women reported gaining a stronger voice, respect from their husbands and children, and improved financial independence, which allowed them to support their families.
Awards were presented to selected GMF families to inspire them to continue supporting one another as husbands and wives, fostering a more balanced and equitable family environment.
