Savana Signatures commended for empowering girls, women and youth

By Samuel SAM

Savana Signatures, a non-governmental organisation in Tamale, has been commended for empowering girls, women and youth while fostering community-led development across Ghana by curbing the unemployment rate and ensuring community development, respectively.

Also, for promoting social accountability and inclusion through grievance and engagement mechanisms in the Transport Sector Improvement Project and the ‘Your Voice 4 Matter’ initiative.

These are practical pathways for strengthening participation, giving voice to women, youth, and persons with disabilities, supporting their meaningful engagement in democratic and accountability processes, they said.

The stakeholders made their commendation at the unveilling of Savana Signatures’ 2025 annual report, held at the organisation’s premises at Gumani in Northern Region

The 2025 Annual Report – titled ‘A Defining Year of Resilience, Innovation and People-Centred Action’, brought together security personnel, Ghana Health Service, Ghana AIDS Commission, UNESCO, government and bank officials, media, non-governmental organisations and academia, among others, to grace the occasion – highlighted the ICT-enabled interventions which have empowered girls, women and youth across Ghana, navigating project challenges to foster community-led development, health and education improvements.

The report focused on girls in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) training; ICT support and pedagogy for teachers; digital skills development for women entrepreneurs; and youth empowerment interventions that strengthen readiness for opportunities in the digital economy.

There was a short documentary to educate stakeholders on the projects’ impact; the commitment, dedication and enthusiastic work in empowering youth and women; providing potable water to some communities; and developing infrastructure that contributes to national development.

Northern Regional Economic Development Planning Officer (REDPO), Mr. Isaac Mwangu – representing Regional Minister Ali Adolf John, commended the organisation for sustaining its commitment to inclusive development across areas such as human capital development, sustainable environmental management and resilience, social inclusion and technology, innovation and training.

“Despite development actors navigating uncertainty amid funding disruptions with social and economic pressures continuing to rise, you remained steadfast; standing with communities, finding innovative ways of responding to constraints and delivering meaningful impact for those who need it most,” he said.

“Your focus on young people and vulnerable populations and the decision to keep ICT at the centre of programme areas is directly aligned with government’s broader direction of accelerating Ghana’s digital transformation to reach all segments of society,” he stressed.

According to him, Ghana’s current National Gender Policy framework – spanning from 2025 to 2034 – provides a clear blueprint for institutionalising gender equity and expanding economic opportunities for women and vulnerable persons.

He said development is most sustainable when communities are not treated merely as beneficiaries but active participants in shaping their future.

He therefore stressed the need for inclusive growth through digital transformation among citizens.

Northern Regional Director of Health Services-Ghana Health Service, Dr. Chrysantus Kubio, said the organisation’s initiative has helped improve access to health information and services, strengthened community resilience, supported maternal and child health and promoted better health-seeking behaviour.

A senior lecturer and former Dean of Students at the University for Development Studies, Prof. Alhassan Musah, commended the organisation for its role in ICT-enabled education and bridging learning gaps in rural areas of Ghana – and also contributing to youth empowerment, resilience and people-centred innovation.

Head of Field Office at World Food Programme, Tamale office, Akanpadadai Timothy Amangbey called for support to the organisation in achieving its policies for national development.

Executive Director of Savana Signatures, Dr. Stephen Agbenyo, said with the uncertainty in the financing landscape’s development, shifting community needs and increasing pressure on organisations to demonstrate relevance, accountability and results, the organisation remained focused on its purpose by creating and scaling ICT-enabled solutions that promote human capital development, community well-being and individual resilience.

“Over the last two years, Savana Signatures has taken a bold step to make annual reporting more accessible and engaging by presenting our report not only in print, but also in video format to allow the voices, faces and realities behind the data to be seen and heard,” he noted.

“This innovative approach brings evidence closer to people and makes accountability more public, practical and inclusive,” he said.

He commended the donors, partners and potential partners, assuring them of the organisation’s commitment to building a strong track record of delivery across health, education, livelihoods, digital innovation, social inclusion, community engagement and systems-strengthening.

“We will remain ready to contribute in building a more inclusive, healthy, empowered and resilient society,” he said.

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