Ghanaian Girls empowerment: transforming lives in Cheyohi Community, Kumbugu District
Community Support drives Adolescent Girls to Financial Independence in Northern Ghana.
It’s a perfect day in Cheyohi, a community in Kumbungu District in the Northern Region of Ghana, specifically at the Cheyohi Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound. Excitement fills the air as residents from surrounding communities gather for two distinct yet equally important events -The orientation exercise for the Targeting process of the "Power Her Potential"-The Adolescent Girls Livelihood Empowerment and Productive Inclusion Programme (LEPIP) and the payment of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash grants.
The atmosphere feels almost magical. As hundreds of people converge on the compound. You could ask anyone in the crowd, and they’d tell you they came because their community leaders made an announcement about an important gathering at the CHPS compound.
When I spoke to some of the attendees, their faces lit up with anticipation. Many said they were eager to learn more about the opportunities being presented to their community.
The gathering was led by mostly adolescent girls; however, it was a true community affair. Mothers, grandmothers, fathers, and brothers had all come out to show support. Particularly striking was the strong presence of men, including the traditional leaders, all united in encouragement.
The chief of the community himself graced the occasion, lending his support and urging families to encourage their daughters to participate in this transformative initiative.
Leading the session was Mr. Zakaria Alhassan from the Department of Social Welfare, who has been on the ground several times, engaging with the people. Speaking passionately in the local Dagbani language, he explained the LEPIP -what it seeks to achieve, who it targets, and why it’s vital for eligible girls to sign up and participate.
It is here that we spot the arrival of two young women, one of them, Zuliaha Fusieni, walking briskly toward the gathering with her young child strapped securely to her back. By her side is another young mother, Aisha, 21, who arrived on a motorbike with her husband.
We see Zuliaha and Aisha eagerly engaging in the discussions. Their curiosity drew us closer. Speaking with Zuliaha, she says she came because of an announcement made by the community leaders. She admitted she doesn’t know her exact age, but her Ghana Card shows she is 18 years old.
Zuliaha shared that she has never been to school and has had no formal training. She moved in with the father of her baby. The baby is now eight months old. To confirm her baby’s age, we also had to check the National health insurance card, as she wasn’t sure of the exact date of birth. Life, she said, has been challenging as she balances childcare and tries to support her home financially.
I’m not working, so I don’t get the respect I deserve from my partner. “I depend on him for almost everything.” My partner is a peasant farmer, and together we face many financial struggles. From what I have heard so far, I hope that through this programme, I will gain skills and confidence, to not only support my family but also to have a voice in my relationship and community.
Aisha’s story mirrors Zuliaha’s in many ways. At 21 years old, she too is a young mother who dreams of a better future. Facing economic hardship, she had migrated down south years ago to work as a Kayayo (female head porter). After enduring extremely harsh conditions, she returned home and managed to buy herself a small, second-hand sewing machine. That marked the beginning of Aisha’s journey to becoming a seamstress, a trade she quickly grew passionate about.
Unfortunately, the sewing machine has since broken down, halting her progress and leaving her uncertain about her future.
I hope this programme will give me the opportunity to get back on my feet, perhaps to buy a new sewing machine and restart my sewing business. I love sewing. I want to be a dressmaker because that’s what I’m good at.
Both Aisha and Zuliaha share a sense of hope. Opportunities like this rarely reach their community, and they believe this could be the turning point in their lives. As the session continued, their faces glowed with optimism, powerful symbols of what empowerment can look like when given the chance to bloom.
Beyond the personal stories of Zuliaha and Aisha lies an equally powerful story of community commitment. The turnout at the orientation was remarkable. People came out in droves, eager to listen and show their support for the community sensitization process for LEPIP. The energy was evident; the sense of unity, unmistakable.
Equally striking was the strong engagement of men who expressed genuine interest in helping their daughters and granddaughters sign up for the programme. Their presence sent a strong message: female empowerment is not just a women’s issue; it’s a community goal.
Community leaders, including the chief himself, were visibly passionate. He spoke with conviction about how this initiative could help address long-standing challenges such as early marriage and teenage pregnancy. “It has always been my dream,” he said, “to have programmes that support our girls and help them build a better future. This is a welcome development for our community.”
For many of the girls present, this programme represents that change - a doorway to a future where their potential is recognized, nurtured, and celebrated.
With the generous support of the Eleva Foundation, the programme is poised to begin, ready to support and empower the next generation of adolescent girls on their journey to financial inclusion and productivity.
Eleva Foundation is supporting the expansion of LEPIP to 20 new districts, targeting vulnerable and at-risk out-of-school adolescent girls and young mothers aged 16-21.
The programme aims to provide income-generating livelihoods through skills training and business support, ensuring access to integrated social services for adolescent girls, protecting them from child marriage and early pregnancy via community engagement, and enhancing their participation in social accountability through UNICEF’s 'We Deserve Better' initiative.
