HAWA YAKUBU -She Fought For Democracy

by Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere

Death has beckoned to the other world a great lady-Hawa Yakubu, who the history of Ghana will surely record as one of the dominant figures of Ghana's 4th Republic.

Her heroic contribution is being captured ever since her unexpected call-up in tribute upon tribute.

Like all remarkable characters, her life , particularly in the political arena touched so many people and so each tribute I have read so far on the Ghanaweb, gives a unique perspective of the life and times of Hawa Yakubu.

I cannot claim to have known Hawa Yakubu as much as others do ,but when our paths crossed the first time, the reason for our encounter left a very big impression on me.

The main reason for Hawa wishing to see me was to ensure that democracy thrived and grew in Ghana.

It may be recalled that the First Parliament of the 4th Republic was a one party parliament following the decision of the New Patriotic Party not to contest the parliamentary election of 19992 on the grounds that the NDC had rigged and stolen the elections. STOLEN VERDICT they cried foul.

In the circumnstances the new Parliament when it was inuagurated had only one non-member of the NDC, an independent candidate in the person of Hawa Yakubu.

As a lone ranger and lone voice she refused to be intimidated by the overwhelming majority and in the process earned the accolade IRON LADY for her courage and outspokeness.

With a one party dominated parliament, the ruling NDC could do whatever it wanted, a fact which was not lost on Hawa.

Against such a background the independent press of Ghana became an alternative platform for debate and discourse of national issues. The Independent, which I then edited and a number of influential papers like the Chronicle of Nana Kofi Coomson and the Free Press of Tommy Thompson and Eben Quarcoo, as well as the Guide then edited by Kweku Baako, Jnr played a crucial role between 1992 and 1996 in ensuring that other voices were heard on national issues.

I do not remember the exact date but one day I got a call from Hawa whom I had never met in person for a meeting. My memory cannot recall the venue of our meeting but I recall vivdly her words of concern

HER CONCERN WAS ABOUT AN IMPENDING BILL-THE SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE BILL.

What was her concern?

As a member of Parliament, Hawa was privy to the draft bill and was not happy with what was in the bill.

" The draft bill has so many provisions that can be used to witchaunt the opposition and other members of society who may find themselves in the bad books of the government. I see it as potential weapon that will kill our democracy- a prelude to tyranny. As a lone rangr in Parliament I am not sure that my voice can change much and so I wish you would help to raise the alarm even before the debate starts in parliament. If we can use The Independent and the media to mobilize civil society we can hope to influence NDC Members of Parliament to change aspects of the bill, which I find dangerous", Hawa confided in me.

With this lead, we managed to find a copy of the draft Serious Office Office Bill and published the full bill with a front page comment pointing out the minefield awaiting Ghana's new democracy if the bill was passed in its entirety.

I must confess our sales suffered for what appeared a not particularly sensational juicy story but we knew like Hawa Yakubu that it worth the price.

Here enters the Institute of Economic Affairs of Dr. Charles Mensah. After the publication of the bill in the Independent, the Institute of Economic Affairs organsied a series of seminars and symposia on the draft bill.

These events enabled jurists, legal luminaries academicians and parliamentarians to discuss outside the chambers of Parliament the full implications of the bill as proposed by the Attorney Genreal and Minsiter of Justice.

Such was the richness of the debate that the NDC-dominated Parliament did the right thing by listening to the voice and concerns of civil society.

The Serious Fraud Office Bill when it was passed had as many as 39 amendments. Today it is one of the main insititutions in Ghana in the fight against corruption.

There is no doubt that both The Independent and the Institute of Economic Affairs from the background, played a role in shaping the passage of the Serious Fraud Office Bill.

But I think the real credit belongs to Hawa Yakubu who first alerted us to the dangers and motivated the two insitutions to play a part in this unwritten account of the passage of this bill.

What Hawa Yakubu did was a great contribution to democracy in Ghana. She of course went on to do many other great things for which others can better testify to.

I encountered Hawa Yakubu on many other occasions but what registers most in my remembrance of her is this singular foresight and courage which has served our new democracy so well.

There is no doubt in my mind that Hawa Yakubu was a great patriot who made her mark in national life and stood tall among both her male and female counterparts in and outside Parliament.