Summary of Community Based Legal Literacy Projects in Cocoa Growing Districts
Several important outcomes have flown from the Legal Literacy training workshop in Suhum Kraboar Coaltar and Akwapim North Districts.
At a community level, participants noticed several important outcomes of the programme. Most participants stated that their confidence level had been significantly raised, especially with regard to the workshop material and personal opinions.The Queen mother of Ayekokuoso who happened to be a participant said that she felt empowered and that the LLV’s must use their new knowledge to create awareness and erase negative biases or perceptions in others as well as erasing some cultural practices of collecting money at the palace before handling cases. Another woman felt that she was now better equipped to conduct outreach programmes, as well as processing her portion of their dead father’s property, now that she has learnt about the Intestate Succession Act ( PNDC LAW 111).
Perhaps, the most significant outcome was the creation of LLV groups (comprised of 30 members) for two districts. The groups will also be responsible for the remaining communities in their respective district. Apart from these LLV’s 5 FONG (Framers Organization Network in Ghana) Executives from the middle and Northern Belt were also trained, Social workers and Community Leaders (4 Queenmothers) were trained. The LLV’s has developed their seven months action plan, outlining the specific activities which should be carried out in their various communities within the 10 selected communities by a certain date. The action plan also outlines expectations for the activities and delegates responsibilities to LLV members.