Bolgatanga: The Network of Women's Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT), a network of gender-focused advocacy organisations, has demanded immediate and decisive action to address escalating insecurity threatening the lives, dignity, and livelihoods of women and girls in the Upper East Region.
According to Ghana News Agency, the call was made in a communiqu© presented to Mr. Donatus Atanga Akamugri, the Regional Minister, in Bolgatanga as part of activities marking this year's International Women's Day. The event was themed 'Strengthening Security and Economic Opportunities for Women.' The communiqu© was signed by member organisations of NETRIGHT in the Upper East Region, including representatives from Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM), RISE-Ghana, Youth Harvest Foundation Ghana, Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organisation, and Basic Foundation for Women Empowerment.
Prior to the presentation of the communiqu© at the Regional Coordinating Council in Bolgatanga, members of the organisations and some women marched through the principal streets of the town. They held placards with inscriptions such as 'Empowering women, ensure safety,' 'Promote women's leadership,' 'End violence against women now,' 'Stop market day robberies,' 'No security, no business,' and 'Silence protects abusers, act now.' This initiative aimed to draw public attention to the issues and demand accountability and support.
The communiqu© highlighted the increasing wave of insecurity, particularly in Bawku and surrounding communities, creating a dual crisis affecting both safety and economic survival. It noted that women traders were increasingly exposed to daylight armed robbery, conflict-related violence, and cross-border insecurity, forcing many to abandon their businesses, thus undermining household incomes. It acknowledged efforts by the government and stakeholders to advance gender equality but emphasized that progress remains too slow and the risks facing women and girls are escalating.
The communiqu© called for decisive, visible, and immediate action, urging authorities to guarantee safety in markets and along trading routes by deploying a sustained and visible police presence, especially on market days. It also recommended establishing rapid response security systems in high-risk areas and providing safety escorts for traders operating along known insecure corridors. Addressing insecurity was deemed critical not only for protecting women but also for sustaining economic activities and ensuring regional stability.
Beyond insecurity, the communiqu© addressed other pressing challenges confronting women and girls, including rising teenage pregnancy, limited economic opportunities, underrepresentation in leadership, and weak justice systems in handling gender-based violence cases. It reaffirmed the commitment of NETRIGHT organisations to promoting gender equality, supporting peacebuilding efforts, and collaborating with government and development partners to improve the safety and economic well-being of women.
The communiqu© urged the Regional Minister to prioritise the protection of women and girls as a central component of the region's development agenda, emphasizing that 'the time for action is now.' It stressed that the safety, dignity, and economic empowerment of women must be treated as a regional development priority, not a peripheral concern. The communiqu© called on the Regional Coordinating Council, under the leadership of the Regional Minister, to prioritise these issues and work collaboratively with civil society and other stakeholders to create a safer and more inclusive environment for women and girls in the region.
Receiving the communiqu© on behalf of the Regional Minister, Mr. Ibrahim Abdul-Kadir Al-Hassan, the Regional Planning Officer at the Regional Coordinating Council, thanked the women and the organisations for the peaceful march.