By Samuel SAM
Savana Signatures, a non-governmental organisation championing ICT for Development (ICT4D), has reaffirmed its commitment to innovation, collaboration and inclusivity in its quest to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Business and Financial Times, Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Agbenyo, highlighted the organisation’s strides under its 2024 theme – ‘A Year of Empowering Communities through Learning to Inspire Growth’. He said the organisation’s interventions continue to transform lives, with a strong focus on leveraging digital tools for empowerment and sustainable development.
Health and well-being through innovation
“In the health sector, our Accelerating Social and Behaviour Change (ASBC) and Nutrition in Retail projects have made significant strides,” Dr. Agbenyo noted. Using ICT-driven health education tools and community-based innovations such as the Community Engagement for Health and Well-being (CE4HW) initiative and Goodlife Health Fairs, Savana Signatures has reached hundreds of thousands with life-saving health messages.
He said these initiatives have fostered community ownership of health outcomes and built sustainable models for healthcare delivery, particularly in underserved communities.
Bridging educational gaps
Under its inclusive quality education agenda, the organisation implemented the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) and Rural Youth in Ghana Catching Up on Education initiative. These interventions targeted the critical disparities facing rural youth—especially girls—through teacher training, school retention strategies and reproductive health education.
“We empowered thousands of adolescents while supporting their academic growth and ensuring they remained in school,” he said.
Advancing governance and inclusion
Savana Signatures’ work in democratic participation was exemplified through the Your Voice Matters 4 project, which empowered marginalised communities across eight districts in the Oti Region.
“We disseminated election-related information to over 3,000 individuals and trained persons with disabilities (PWDs) to conduct polling station audits ahead of Ghana’s 2024 General Elections, thereby promoting political inclusion and accessibility,” he added.
Tackling malnutrition and strengthening resilience
Food security and nutrition also remained key focus areas. Through the Nutrition in Retail project and consultancy support under the World Food Programme’s Farmer Support Activity, Savana Signatures promoted the consumption of locally available, fortified foods and sustainable farming practices via the Kpododo Mobile messaging platform.
These efforts reached thousands—including PWDs, pregnant women, nursing mothers and adolescents—with education, cooking demonstrations and nutrition quiz competitions in the Sagnarigu and Karaga Districts.
Empowering youth through health access
In addressing reproductive health, the SHE+ Helpline provided over 2,000 young people—mainly girls—with confidential counselling and information on sexual health and gender-based violence. “This became a vital service, enabling the youth to make informed decisions about their health and future,” Dr. Agbenyo explained.
Digital solutions at the core
As an ICT-for-development organisation, Savana Signatures embeds digital tools across all its programmes—from education and health to livelihood development. “We believe that everyone should have access to tools that improve their quality of life and build stronger communities,” he emphasised.
Among the flagship efforts was the Media Literacy and Youth Empowerment for Peaceful Election project, which equipped the youth with digital and media literacy skills, promoted gender equality and safeguarded access to healthcare through community engagements.
Looking forward
Dr. Agbenyo concluded with optimism, affirming that with continued support from donors, partners and communities, Savana Signatures is well-positioned to scale its impact and deepen its mission in 2025 and beyond.
