Oye Lithur is Africa’s 4th woman achiever

Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur has been named as the 4th African Woman Achiever.

She was among a list of Twenty-Five others named by the Guardian newspaper.

Readers of the UK-based newspaper were asked to nominate their top 25 women on the continent who deserve recognition, in commemoration of the International Women’s Day which falls today, March 8, 2013.

Top on the list is Africa’s first female head of state and gender activist; President Joyce Banda of Malawi, followed by Mozambican politician and former wife of Nelson Mandela; Graca Marcel, while Fatou Bensouda, the first African to become Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) placed third.

Other notable women who made the list include Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the South African ANC stalwart who won a fiercely fought contest to become the first woman to lead the African Union. She has a reputation as a no-nonsence “can do” politician.

Nigeria’s Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Liberia’s Leymah Gbowee, joint 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Senegalese businesswoman, Mariene Jamme, among others, made the list.

As an acclaimed human rights lawyer, Nana Oye Lithur has fought for the rights of all including gays.

Her advocacy group; Human Rights Advocacy Centre, has been credited with helping hundreds of poor people to gain access to justice.

Nana Oye Lithur faced stiff opposition from people who disagreed with her stands on gay rights and her open advocacy for the recognition of the rights of persons in the act.