The Youth Empowerment for Life (YEFL-Ghana), a non-governmental organization, has launched the Minority Inclusion Empowerment Manual in Tamale as part of efforts to deepen conversations on minority ethnic inclusion and promote peaceful coexistence in Northern Ghana.
The manual, developed under YEFL’s Fulbe Integration Initiative, was piloted with the Fulbe community to highlight their positive contributions to society while challenging stereotypes that often associated them solely with criminality and insecurity.
As part of the initiative, YEFL also introduced the Fulbe Empowerment Video, which it described as a strategic advocacy tool to raise awareness on the need for stronger ethnic harmony and inclusive participation in social and economic development.
Speaking at the regional screening of the video in Tamale, Madam Jawol Vera Megan, Executive Director of YEFL-Ghana, said the manual was designed to spark dialogue on ethnic inclusion and to reaffirm that every individual matters, irrespective of their tribe or ethnic background.
She stressed that young people must be at the centre of peacebuilding and community development, noting that they are often both the drivers and victims of conflict.
“When conflict erupts, young people are the ones used as instruments of violence, yet they bear the heaviest consequences,” she said.
Madam Megan urged stakeholders, including traditional authorities, community leaders, and civil society, to adopt inclusive approaches that recognize the contributions of all groups towards peace and development.
Ms Rashida Iddrisu, a cast member in the Fulbe empowerment video and a member of the Fulbe Youth Association of Ghana (FUYAG), expressed her excitement at being part of the initiative.
She described the project as a source of pride and happiness for the Fulbe community.
She appealed to members of the public to avoid hasty generalizations about the Fulbe, based on the actions of a few individuals.
“When one person does wrong, call them out as an individual, not as an entire tribe,” she noted.
The event, which brought together about 60 participants, including community leaders, members of Fulbe associations, cultural experts, and development partners, was supported by OBL Production Company and formed part of YEFL-Ghana’s broader efforts to foster ethnic inclusion, peaceful coexistence, and community engagement across Northern Ghana.
Source: myghanadaily
