Community Development Alliance - Ghana

At the forecourt of the Wechiau Naa’s Palace, the Community Development Alliance, in partnership with APFG Burkina Faso, celebrated a powerful shift in the fight against female ge***al mutilation (FGM). Fourteen former excisers in Wa West District publicly renounced the practice and embraced new roles as advocates for its eradication.

To support their transition, beneficiaries received goats, pigs, and shea butter processing equipment—sustainable livelihood options to replace income previously earned from FGM.

In a bold commitment, the women pledged to abandon FGM entirely and work alongside the Ghana Health Service, CDA, and other stakeholders to achieve zero FGM in the district.

District Director of Health Services, Madam Cicilia Kakariba, praised their courage and highlighted the serious health risks of FGM, calling for collective action. Regional Gender Director, Madam Charity Bature, urged the women to lead change efforts, stressing that while FGM is illegal in Ghana, ending it requires sustained community support and behavior change. She emphasized that no girl should endure such harm and called on all to support the campaign.

Despite the steady rain, committed community members in Bellekpong turned out in good numbers for a durbar focused on the development of their children and community.

What began as a general discussion soon shifted to a pressing concern—education.

Parents expressed deep frustration over the severe shortage of teachers at the local school. Currently, the entire school is run by just two teachers—one handling the primary level and the other the Junior High School—placing an enormous burden on both educators and compromising the quality of learning.

Ironically, the community has a fully furnished teachers’ bungalow ready to accommodate staff, yet it remains unoccupied due to the lack of postings.

This situation, residents say, has contributed to low school attendance, with many children staying at home during school hours.

The community is therefore making a passionate appeal through CDA to the Ghana Education Service (GES) to urgently deploy more teachers to Bellekpong.

They believe that with adequate staffing, the school can better serve its purpose and help secure a brighter future for their children.

Tinnaebe, May 1, 2026 — A community durbar held today at Tinnaebe has renewed focus on the critical role parents play in supporting child protection efforts, following the use of the “Circle of Support” facilitation tool to guide discussions.

The engagement brought together parents, caregivers, and key stakeholders, and shifted attention toward strengthening collaboration between families and both informal and formal child protection (CP) institutions. These include Community-Based Child Protection Committees (CBCPCs), religious leaders, school authorities, and non-governmental organizations working to promote the wellbeing and development of children.

Addressing participants, the Chairperson of the CBCPC emphasized the need for greater respect and cooperation from parents and caregivers. The Chair noted that individuals who volunteer their time to support children’s welfare—such as those encouraging school enrolment or re-enrolment—often face verbal abuse and resistance.

“Efforts to get children into school should not be met with insults,” the Chair stressed, calling on families to recognize and support the shared responsibility of raising and protecting children within the community.

The durbar concluded with a strong, collective commitment from community members to work together to safeguard children, with particular attention to the protection and empowerment of girls.

As part of the event, members of the Community-Based Child Protection Committee were formally introduced to the wider community, reinforcing their role and visibility in local child protection efforts.

The meeting marks a significant step toward building a more supportive environment where parents and community stakeholders collaborate effectively to ensure that children grow up in safe, nurturing, and enabling conditions.

At today’s community durbar in Jumo, the Child Protection (CP) tool laid a strong foundation for meaningful dialogue on our shared responsibility in raising children.

An engaging game set the tone, opening up rich discussions led by the community’s Imam and the primary school headteacher.

They highlighted the critical roles of parents, leaders, and all stakeholders in ensuring children are protected, guided, and nurtured to reach their full potential.

The community spoke with one voice: raising a child is a collective responsibility, not the duty of parents alone. There was a firm commitment from all to work together in supporting the growth, safety, and development of every child in Jumo.

A community dialogue aimed at addressing harmful social norms affecting children’s education was held today at Chiantanga in the Wa West District, bringing together parents, caregivers, and young people to reflect on their roles in safeguarding the future of children.

The meeting, organized as part of ongoing child protection efforts, focused on the impact of entrenched social practices on children’s wellbeing and access to education. To guide the discussion, facilitators employed the “Tag of War” tool from UNICEF’s Child Protection Toolkit. The interactive exercise helped participants visualize the competing forces that either support or hinder a child’s development, encouraging collective reflection and problem-solving.

Community members openly identified several pressing challenges undermining children’s education in the area. These included teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, illegal mining (galamsey), poverty, and parental neglect. Participants acknowledged that these issues often intersect, creating a cycle that limits opportunities for children to remain in school and thrive.

In response, the community proposed a range of practical solutions and collectively pledged to take action to address the identified challenges, emphasizing shared responsibility in protecting children.