TheSmoothMedia "I was scared and could not sleep properly. I would jump at the slightest sound of footsteps. I did not have a reason to live," recalls Hagar Boakye, her voice trembling as she remembers the darkness that once consumed her life.
Today, this 46-year-old woman sits with confidence and strength, her eyes steady and full of resilience. In a region where traditional customs are often prioritised over the welfare of vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, Hagar found her voice and began resisting sexual violence from her husband after years of silence.
This story highlights the meaningful work of Women and Youth Forum for Sustainable Development (WYFSD) in safeguarding the lives of survivors, empowering them to become advocates, and providing counseling to help them overcome their fears and face society with confidence.
Thirty years ago, Hagar was sexually exploited by a stranger when she desperately needed money for her father's medical care. This resulted in a pregnancy.
The trauma shattered her sense of safety, left her emotionally paralysed, and plunged her into a darkness she never imagined she could escape.
"I was scared and could not sleep properly. I would jump at the slightest sound of footsteps. I did not have a reason to live," Hagar recalls, her voice trembling.
Today, she sits with confidence and strength, her eyes steady and full of resilience. Her transformation, according to her, came from the consistent education provided by WYFSD and the Department of Social Welfare.
WYFSD was established in April 2004 in response to a survey conducted in the Aowin Suaman district in the Western North Region of Ghana, which measured women's human rights and health, bodily autonomy, and sustainable livelihoods.
The organisation has successfully created sustained awareness on Gender Based Violence prevention, established a platform of women champions against Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), created clear reporting channels for VAWG cases, and strengthened the efforts of religious and traditional authorities in supporting VAWG prevention.
Through the KASA project by the African Women Development Fund (AWDF), a funding partner of WYFSD, educational and advocacy programmes have been implemented in several communities in the region to protect survivors, especially women, from the trauma, stigma, and fears they encounter after sexual abuse.
KASA, meaning "Speak Out," has over the years assisted many NGOs in Africa, including Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal, in initiating various projects and interventions to help eradicate sexual violence. The project was launched by AWDF together with the Ford Foundation and Open Society West Africa.
Hagar was empowered and trained on resisting sexual violence through the KASA project implemented by WYFSD in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare in the district. She is among other women who have struggled and are overcoming the emotional trauma and stress of sexual violence.
WYFSD empowers women and girls to demand their human rights, bodily autonomy, integrity, and improved livelihoods. Recognising that recovery is multi-dimensional, they connected with Hagar through their empowerment programmes and guided her through the process of finding her voice to resist the violence and helped her reclaim the control she had lost.
According to the World Health Organisation, one in three women globally experience sexual and physical violence in their lifetime. In Ghana, underreporting and stigma remain persistent barriers to justice and healing.
WYFSD, led by Madam Rose Ackah, the Executive Director, is working to change this narrative not only through support services, but also through community education programmes, outreach initiatives, and partnerships with relevant stakeholders to create survivor-friendly reporting mechanisms.
In the first phase of the project, funds from AWDF were channelled toward empowering and educating survivors and other women within the region to resist sexual violence.
"Survivors do not need pity from anyone; they need justice and support to thrive," says Madam Rose Ackah.
Hagar's story is one of thousands, but each time one woman finds healing, we all take a step forward in the fight against sexual violence.
Today, Hagar volunteers with other survivors as a peer counsellor, empowering other survivors by giving them voice, strength, and support to deal with their emotions.
"I advise them to be strong and persevere, as they are bigger and stronger than their issues and what they have been through," she says.
Hagar is no longer defined by her pain and struggles. She is a woman reborn, not in spite of her trauma, but through the strength she found in facing it.
The partnership between WYFSD and AWDF has over the years been impactful and transformative for survivors like Hagar and her colleagues. "We had no one to talk to until they reached out to encourage and motivate us after the assault," she said.
The transformational work of WYFSD continues, but requires additional support to advance their mission and protect more survivors in the Western North Region and beyond.
Story by: Victoria Agyemang
victoriaagyemang838@icloud.com
