Norsaac celebrates women on International women’s day

Story By:  Rahamatu-Lahi Zakaria || Sanatu Zambang

As part of the activities to honour women’s month in March, Norsaac organised a panel discussion centered on women and issues relating to the Covid 19 pandemic and the effect it has had on women in Ghana on the 18th of March, 2021 at Mariam Centre.

The event which was on the theme “The Impact of Covid-19 on Gender and Women Empowerment” brought together women from all adverse groups.

These groups included students, youth groups, market women, female musicians, sister CSOs who are also working in the gender and women related issues as well men.

The Youth Advocacy and Campaign Coordinator for Norsaac, Mrs. Blessilla Na-Ofoe Kandoh, briefed the audience about the Norsaac and their new strategic plan.
In their new strategic plan, Norsaac will seek to improve economic opportunities, improve health care delivery, better educational outcomes, peace, and stable communities and social protection.

The Girls and Female Empowerment officer at Norsaac, Nancy Yeri who also leads the ENOUGH! project spoke about the event and the need to have these discussions to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence at all levels in our society.


The first-panel discussion which was on the topic, “SGBV in the Midst of Covid19” had Issah Rahama as the moderator. Alhassan Bushira, the Northern Regional director of the gender department, DSP Emmanuel Codjoe Holotu, the Northern Regional Director of DUVSU, and Etornam, a female musician were the panelists.

Etornam who is part of Norsaac Enough Project, a campaign to end sexual and gender-based violence in the music industry talks about how she is able to maneuver around a male-dominated industry that is built on sexism by the so-called gatekeepers as industry players.

While DSP Emmanuel and Madam Bushira shared what their agencies are doing to help victims and as well as policies and intervention that are being implemented to protect women and children against gender and sexual based violence. They also talked about how our society and cultural construct is protecting the perpetuators of these crimes.


”When I came here in 2008, people found it difficult to report SGBV. It took me and the civil societies to sensitize the communities. Even when they report to the police station, they want it to end there. They do not want it to go to the courts.”
Said DSP Emmanuel Codjoe Holotu.


”We need to all campaign against all forms sexual harassment done to female musicians in the industry. Some of these offenders do not see any wrong with their behavior.” added Etornam.


For the second panel discussion was on the topic “Women access to coronovirus alleviation programmed business support scheme “. The thePanelists included Abdul Rahaman Humu, partnership and training coordinator YCI, Madam Sherifatu, entrepreneur and Henrietta Zaato, Business Advisory Centre, Head, Sagnarigu, NBSSI.

The second topic was to discuss how accessible women were able to get the government support funds to help small businesses thrive during the pandemic.
Madam Henrietta of NBSSI debunks the theories that the funds were given to political loyalists.

She made it known that some people did not fill in their details correctly. She also mentioned how the sagnerigu district supported communities by assisting women groups to register.


Madam Humu also talked about her organization, what they do to support out of school youth acquire some vocational skills and start their own businesses, and Madam Sherifa, a market woman highlighted the effect of the pandemic on businesses and how she applied for the government support funds but was not given the money.

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