In a bid to unlock economic opportunities for women and girls in Northern Ghana, the Africa Youth Centre for Development (AFRI Youth) has spearheaded a multi-stakeholder engagement aimed at revitalizing the local weaving industry—a sector increasingly dominated by women despite historical male prevalence.
The forum, held in Tamale and organized in partnership with the Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana) and supported by the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), brought together over 500 young women weavers, designers, and industry actors. The initiative, titled “Empowering Women on Weaving for Economic Growth,” focuses on equipping participants with skills in capacity building, mentorship, digital marketing, and business development.
Mr. Mohammed Gadafi Mandeya, Executive Director of AFRI Youth, highlighted the critical role weaving plays in providing livelihoods and mitigating rural-urban migration within the Northern Region. Despite this potential, many women remain hindered by insufficient support and limited access to resources.
“Nearly 20,000 women in Tamale and Sagnarigu Municipalities alone are engaged in weaving, yet they lack essential support to maximize their impact,” Mr. Mandeya noted, urging government agencies, NGOs, and philanthropic bodies to prioritize investment in this vital sector.
Echoing these sentiments, Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed, Executive Director of SWIDA-Ghana, stressed the necessity for gender-sensitive policies tailored to overcome barriers unique to women entrepreneurs. She underscored how a robust weaving industry could serve as a practical alternative to rural exodus by fostering sustainable community livelihoods.
Alhaji Salifu Yussif, President of the Smock Weavers and Sellers Association, called for greater technological integration to modernize weaving processes. He also emphasized the importance of continuous business support post-training to ensure women can launch and sustain their ventures, preventing a return to urban migration.
The forum is part of AFRI Youth’s larger commitment to economic empowerment through entrepreneurship development in Northern Ghana. Participants left encouraged, confident that with targeted policy frameworks and financial backing, the weaving industry could become a cornerstone of inclusive growth and economic resilience for women in the region.
