Norsaac, a leading non-governmental organization committed to youth empowerment, has organized the seventh edition of the Northern Ghana Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Youth Conference (NORGHA 2025) in Tamale.
This year’s conference was held under the theme: “Empower, Engage, Excel: Advancing Reproductive Health and Rights of Young People for a Brighter Future.”
Executive Director of Norsaac, Alhassan Mohammed Awal, said the gathering reflects a shared commitment to the health, dignity, and leadership of young people in Ghana. He explained that since its inception in 2017, NORGHA has grown from a modest youth dialogue platform into a nationally recognized space for advocacy, learning, and action, impacting nearly 2,000 young people between the ages of 10 and 30.
“At the heart of this journey is our belief that young people are not just beneficiaries of development, but architects of change. We don’t just work for youth, we work with them, creating spaces where their voices are heard and their ideas are valued,” he noted.
Awal disclosed that within the past year alone, Norsaac has impacted over half a million young people and supported 3,000 adolescents through peer support groups. He added that in over 650 households, domestic responsibilities are now being shared between boys and girls—an indication of the quiet social transformation Norsaac is championing.
Launching the conference, the Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John, commended Norsaac for sustaining the initiative despite the global aid challenges facing many development organizations.
“This conference is not just a gathering; it is a movement. The seventh edition of NORGHA is a testament to the resilience and commitment of Norsaac to youth development,” he said.
The Minister praised the collaboration between civil society and government in advancing sexual and reproductive health rights in Northern Ghana. He outlined several youth-focused initiatives rolled out by government under President John Dramani Mahama in 2025, including: The Free Sanitary Pad Distribution Programme, which has reached over 2 million schoolgirls nationwide., Removal of VAT and import duties on raw materials for local sanitary pad production, to make menstrual products affordable.
Chairman of the conference, Alhaji Abdul Rahaman Yakubu, also emphasized the importance of engaging young people directly in decision-making processes.
“We are in an era where democracy must permit the voices of young people, who form the majority, to be heard. There is nothing we can do or achieve without their active involvement,” he stressed.
NORGHA 2025 brought together hundreds of young people, government officials, civil society actors, and development partners to deliberate on strategies that place youth at the center of Ghana’s development agenda.
Source:Fiilafmonline/Walkiyatu Issahaku
