GHANA
DEVELOPING
COMMUNITIES
ASSOCIATION
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CLAIM YOUR SPACE
Project to help strengthen social cohesion in strategic cross-border areas
Implemented by the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) in partnership with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), the Claim Your Space project strengthens civic space in Northern Ghana. Funded under Track 2 of the Global Focus grant, it promotes citizens’ rights to assembly, association, and expression through capacity building, alliance formation, and dialogue with state actors.
Background
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In recent years, Ghana’s civic space has faced increasing pressure, with restrictions on freedom of assembly and expression, limited access to information, and growing mistrust between citizens and security institutions. Civil society organisations and citizen groups often struggle to engage government actors constructively or to advocate safely for their rights. These challenges are especially evident in Northern Ghana, where fragile social and political contexts heighten tensions. The Claim Your Space project responds to these issues by promoting open dialogue, strengthening civic capacities, and fostering collaboration between citizens, civil society, the media, and state institutions.
Objectives
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Promote awareness and protection of citizens’ democratic rights and responsibilities.
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Strengthen dialogue and trust between civil society, citizens, and security agencies.
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Improve access to information and civic participation through the use of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
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Foster a coordinated alliance among citizen groups to defend and expand civic space.
Activities
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Conducted training sessions on human rights, civic responsibilities, and public order legislation, facilitated by GII and the Ghana Police Service.
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Supported the Ghana Journalists Association in promoting access to information through workshops on the RTI Act.
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Organised citizen–police dialogue sessions and roundtable meetings to discuss peaceful assembly and collaboration.
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Established a virtual multi-stakeholder advocacy platform to share information, coordinate actions, and strengthen partnerships.
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Carried out radio programmes, media outreach, and visibility campaigns to raise awareness of civic freedoms and human rights.
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Held monitoring visits and partner coordination meetings to track outcomes and sustain engagement.
Results
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Over 150 citizen representatives from youth, women, disability, and media groups gained increased awareness of their democratic rights and responsibilities.
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Citizens improved their dialogue and negotiation skills, leading to more constructive and peaceful engagements with the Ghana Police Service.
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The Ghana Police Service demonstrated greater openness to collaboration and conducted follow-up trainings in local schools.
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A Citizens Alliance of 12 civil society and community groups was formed to coordinate advocacy on freedom of assembly and expression.
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Media outreach reached tens of thousands of Ghanaians, amplifying public voices and building momentum for civic freedom and good governance.
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The project strengthened mutual trust between citizens and state actors, contributing to a more open and inclusive civic environment in Northern Ghana.