The initiative which is being supported by the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF), formed part of the implementation of the KASA project, and seeks to provide a secure and empowering environment where beneficiaries can access psychosocial support to enable them navigate issues of their reproductive health and rights.

The five newly established safe spaces are located at the premises of a Total Life Enhancement Centre in Tamale (TOLECGH), Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), Choggu Health Centre, Bilpeila Health Centre and one at Walewale in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region.

The event was on the theme: "Creating Safe Spaces for Healing, Growth and Development" and attended by representatives of various partnering organizations, including PPAG, Golden Inspire Foundation (GIF - Ghana), TOLECGH, Gender and Career Mentorship at the University for Development Studies, (UDS) Girls Empowerment Mission (GEM - Ghana), Tiyumba Hope Foundation, Centre for Opportunities and Rural Development (CORD-Ghana). They shared experiences on safe space initiatives and advocated measures to sustain it.

The establishment of these safe spaces, is therefore tailored to complement some already existing centres to ensure more vulnerable groups have access to reproductive health information as well as guarantee their fundamental human rights irrespective of their status in society.

Hajia Alima Sagito Saeed, Executive Director of SWIDA -Ghana, speaking at the launch, said the creation of the safe spaces was in response to the increasing need for community-based support systems that uphold human dignity and promote gender equity.

"We envision a Northern Ghana where no one is left behind, especially women and girls who are often victims of marginalization. These spaces would be more than just physical structures, they will serve as platforms for healing, empowerment and advocacy," she said.

She explained that the safe spaces were designed to be youth-friendly, inclusive, and equipped to support survivors of gender-based violence, adding "Each of the facilities are staffed with trained social workers and counselors, and it is strategically located to ensure accessibility within local communities, while at the same time guarantees the confidentiality of victims".

Hajia Saeed urged victims of gender-based violence and other vulnerable groups to take advantage of the initiative to safeguard their rights and guarantee access to reproductive health and wellness.

Mr Adam Azabre Abugbila, PPAG Project Coordinator, Northern Zone, lauded the initiative, saying it aligned perfectly with Ghana's national development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 5 (Gender Equality), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

He said, "These interventions demonstrate the power of multi-stakeholder collaboration in tackling entrenched inequalities and building resilience among vulnerable groups".

Mrs Shahadu Nima Abubakar, Northern Regional President of the Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD), commended SWIDA -Ghana and partners for their unwavering commitment to supporting vulnerable groups in Northern Ghana.
She raised concern against abuse of members of GFD who were often sexually abused, impregnated and left to suffer on their own without any form of support system for them and expressed optimism that the initiative would help reverse such unfortunate trends and offer platforms for persons with disabilities to receive psychosocial support.

Mrs Abubakar appealed to SWIDA -Ghana and other benevolent organizations to prioritise establishing separate safe spaces for persons with disabilities to avoid cases of stigma and marginalization.

Representatives of the various organizations present at the official launch took turns to express the prospects of the initiative in improving access to reproductive health rights and preserving dignity of vulnerable groups.

The initiative is part of a broader social inclusion strategy being implemented across selected districts in Northern Ghana, and targeting areas where access to protection and support services is limited.

As the region continues to confront issues of poverty, early marriage, sexual and gender-based violence, and exclusion, stakeholders believe that such safe spaces could become crucial lifelines for thousands of people striving for better lives.