By; Edwin Gogu
In a step to enhance the participation of women in leadership, peacebuilding, and local governance, the Savannah Regional Peace Council, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and it funders: the Embassies of Luxembourg and Denmark, and in partnership with the Department of Gender has ended a 2-day mentorship conference on 9th July, 2025, aimed at building the capacity of aspiring women leaders across the region.
Speaking at the mentorship conference held in the West Gonja Municipality, the Regional Executive Secretary of the Savannah Regional Peace Council, Mr. Kennedy Atiibo said the initiative is designed to empower women with the skills, confidence, and networks needed to take up leadership and decision-making roles in their communities and beyond.
“This programme is purposely meant for women’s leadership development,” Mr. Atiibo stated. “We want to identify aspiring women leaders and pair them with experienced mentors, former assembly members, traditional leaders, and political party executives, so they can guide them to become capable and confident leaders, particularly in the areas of peacebuilding and local governance.”
Mr. Atiibo added that beyond the two-day conference, the mentorship phase will span three months, during which mentees will be supported, monitored, and guided by their mentors to sharpen their leadership skills and resolve local conflicts. He emphasized the critical role women play in peacebuilding processes, saying their contributions to conflict resolution are often underutilized despite their potential.
“We’ve seen that women are often overlooked in decision-making and peacebuilding, yet they have so much to offer. This programme is our way of changing that narrative by giving them the tools and support they need to take their rightful place,” he said.
The conference brought together over 50 women, including queen mothers, aspiring assembly women, youth leaders, and civil society actors. It forms part of a broader initiative by the Peace Council and its partners to ensure that women are not left behind in the region’s governance and peace efforts.
Participants of the programme expressed gratitude for the opportunity and shared their takeaways. Joana, a participant from the West Gonja Municipal Assembly, reflected on the significance of mentorship in personal and professional growth.
“I’ve learned that you need a mentor in all aspects of your life as a woman. Someone experienced guiding you toward your goals. I now believe I can also be a mentor someday to someone else,” she said.
Another participant, Hajia Ubaida, described the programme as a golden opportunity. “This has empowered us to step up and also mentor the young ones coming behind us. I hope we can expand the number of mentors in the region to reach more women,” she noted.
The programme also included interactive sessions on mediation, dialogue with key stakeholders, including traditional leaders, security agencies, and assembly members, and discussions on how to address structural and cultural barriers to women’s participation in public life.
Highlighting the importance of the media, Mr. Atiibo called on journalists and media houses to continue raising awareness on the importance of women’s inclusion in governance and development. “Your presence and coverage of this programme show commitment. We urge you to continue spreading these messages to promote women’s leadership in society,” he said.
The mentorship programme, though currently limited to the West Gonja Municipality, has been recommended for scaling up across all districts of the Savannah Region. According to Mr. Atiibo, if given the necessary support and resources, the Peace Council is ready to replicate the initiative in other areas to strengthen women’s voices in governance and peacebuilding efforts throughout the region.
