The Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA-Ghana), with backing from the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), has officially operationalised five Safe Spaces across Northern Ghana to provide confidential and survivor-focused support for women and girls affected by abuse and exploitation.
Four of the centres are located in Tamale, Northern Region, while one serves Walewale in the North East Region. The initiative is part of SWIDA-Ghana’s KASA! Project, which aims to strengthen community-based response systems and offer services including psychosocial support, referrals, and protection for vulnerable survivors.
Hajia Alima Sagito Saeed, Executive Director of SWIDA-Ghana, said the Safe Spaces reflect the organisation’s commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of survivors. She noted that all coordinators and service providers underwent comprehensive training in survivor-centred approaches, psychological first aid, confidentiality, ethical standards, disability inclusion, and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) response mechanisms prior to the launch.
“Survivors deserve spaces where they feel safe, heard, and respected. These Safe Spaces are designed to restore dignity and ensure no survivor walks alone on the journey to healing,” Hajia Saeed stated.
During February 2026, SWIDA-Ghana’s monitoring team visited four facilities—Bilpiela Health Center, Choggu Health Center, the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), and the Total Life Enhancement Centre Ghana (TOLECGH)—to assess utilisation, provide supervision, and gather feedback to improve service delivery.
Mr Peter Amadu Mintir, Executive Director of TOLECGH, emphasised the importance of integrating mental health services into the Safe Space model, noting that survivors often experience trauma, anxiety, and depression that require structured psychosocial support.
The monitoring exercise also identified the need for intensified community awareness and additional informational resources to ensure greater access. Hajia Saeed reiterated that ongoing community engagement would be critical in enabling women and girls to safely access these services.
“Safe Spaces are not just physical structures; they are symbols of hope and justice,” she said, underlining the transformative role the centres play in empowering survivors and promoting a supportive community environment.
