Young women, from four districts in the Northern Region have appealed to government to prioritise support for agriculture, financial empowerment, inclusivity in job schemes, and increased funding for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the 2026 national budget.

The proposals, made in Yendi during a day’s forum under the Financial Inclusion for Last Mile Actors (FILMA) programme at Yendi, included the provision of farm equipment and implements such as tractors, sprayers and other farm equipment, rehabilitation of rural roads to ease transportation of farm produce, and financial support to enhance creative skills and enterprises.

The young women also called for fairness in the selection of beneficiaries of government job creation programmes and an increment in the District Assemblies Common Fund allocation for PWDs, to enable them to access dignified work opportunities.

The forum brought together 100 participants from Nanumba North, Nanumba South, Yendi Municipality and Zabzugu Districts, and served as a platform for them to influence government’s job creation priorities for the 2026 budget.

The event also provided a platform for officials from the Ministry of Finance to present the government’s plans for job creation, after which the young women shared their perspectives.

The inputs outlined by participants were expected to be aggregated and submitted to the Ministry for consideration.

FILMA is a four-year initiative led by a consortium including Temple Investments, SEND Ghana, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and AV Ventures.

The programme aimed to create 100,000 jobs for young women and PWDs by promoting financial inclusion, access to finance, establishing stronger market networks and facilitating an enabling environment for job creation.

Alhaji Mumuni Mohammed, the Deputy Director of SEND Ghana, said access to affordable credit and financial services remained crucial for unlocking the potential of rural youth.

He said the initiative would play a critical role in influencing government’s budgetary allocations to supporting the inclusive development of the country.

Mr Jonathan Dzikunu, the Head of Budget Development at the Ministry of Finance, said the government was committed to inclusive growth through strategic investments in finance, energy, and workforce development.

He said, the engagement, demonstrated the importance of citizen participation in shaping the national budget to ensure that young women in rural areas had their voices heard on policymaking.