ActionAid Ghana, in partnership with FORWARD UK and TuWezeshe Global Ghana, has launched the TuWezeshe Akina Dada Leadership Programme in Tamale, in the Northern Region.
TuWezeshe Akina Dada, a Swahili phrase meaning “empowering our sisters,” is a tailored leadership initiative developed by FORWARD (UK) in collaboration with ActionAid Ghana (AAG) and TuWezeshe Global (Ghana).
The programme seeks to empower young women aged 18 to 35 to become leaders and activists in the fight against Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).
Speaking at the launch, the Northern Regional Programmes Manager of ActionAid Ghana, Madam Beatrice Yanman Bilje, said the first cohort of 21 young women completed the programme in 2025, while a second cohort of 23 young women was trained in 2026.
She explained that after the training, beneficiaries are supported with grants and mentorship to implement their Social Action Projects (SAPs) in their communities.
“After the training, we provide them with grants and mentorship support to implement their social action projects. As they are empowered, they are also challenged to design projects of interest that they want to implement in their communities to positively impact lives,” she said.
Madam Bilje added that ActionAid Ghana remains committed to supporting beneficiaries beyond the training period.
“We don’t leave them after the training. We provide experienced mentors to guide them through the process. We are confident this second cohort will make us proud, and we will continue to offer full support to ensure they impact others,” she noted.
One of the beneficiaries, Sumaila Wumpini Salma, said the programme has significantly improved her public speaking confidence and leadership skills, while preparing her to implement a social action project focused on sexual and reproductive health rights.
“The programme has positively impacted my life. I used to be very shy, but after the mentorship, I now feel confident to speak in public. It has also strengthened my leadership skills as a woman, which will help me greatly during the implementation of our social action project,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Mufidatu Ibrahim, said the training deepened her understanding of feminism and strengthened her resolve to become an ambassador against violence targeting women and girls.
The TuWezeshe model is built around five key pillars: feminist leadership training; a cash grant to enable trained young women to implement Social Action Projects addressing VAWG; mentorship to support fellows through their projects and early leadership journey; a self-care component; and the creation of a sisterhood to ensure the programme’s impact extends beyond the project period.
