The Executive Director of KEBETKACHE Women Development and Resource Center in Nigeria, Emem Okon, has called for government intervention to address the challenges faced by women fisherfolk in Ghana and Nigeria.
Speaking at a capacity building training on divestment, gender, climate change, and food sovereignty in Accra, Okon noted the need for more organized and empowered women in the fishing industry.
She said “KEBETKACHE, along with the Tano Women Empowerment and Development Association (TWEDA), is part of the Global Alliance for Gender and Green Action (GAGGA).
“GAGA’s “learning and linking project” promotes exchange and partnership strengthening among its partners, which include OLEGH Center for Community Development (OCCD) and Women Initiative on Climate Change (WICC), a network of women organizations working on climate change in Nigeria.”
The project aims to promote solidarity between GAGGA partners in Ghana and Nigeria, and through this organize community groups, and advocate for responses to the climate change manifestations they are experiencing in their localities, she explained.
The engagement in Ghana, she noted, focused on women fisherfolk, particularly in the Anyako community in the Keta Municipality of the Volta region.
During a visit to Anyako, Okon observed the women’s commitment to their fishing vocation and their ability to express themselves despite not being organized in a group. She lauded the community’s support, with the presence of the chief and religious leaders at their meeting.
Noting her experience from the visit, Okon emphasized the need for further intervention by TWEDA and KEBETKACHE to empower the women, build their leadership capacity, and provide a platform for them to express themselves on climate change issues.
She particularly also called for the attention of the government and other development partners to support these women.
“The women fisherfolk face challenges such as occasional flooding, which forces them to go far into the sea to fish,” Okon said. She believes these issues should interest the government; especially as African governments are becoming more interested in addressing climate change issues through the United Nations Conference on Climate Change.
Through the efforts of non-governmental organizations like KEBETKACHE and TWEDA, Okon hopes to amplify the voices of these women and attract the attention they need from the government and development partners.
Speaking on behalf of TWEDA, Lucy Annor, acknowledged the impact of climate change on small businesses especially those operated by women and stressed on the commitment of the two organisations moving forward to empower such women while amplifying their challenges.
