Petitioners’ lawyer descends on Prez Mahama

The President of the Greater Accra Regional Branch of the Ghana Bar Association and member of the petitioners’ legal team of the just ended election petition hearing, Mr. Frank Davis has launched a scathing attack on the President, John Dramani Mahama, describing his idea of change of name of the then existing Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWAC) under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as frivolous and unnecessary.

Referring further to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection as a long-winding name in itself, he claimed he could not fathom what that actually meant and what other contribution that change of name was likely to bring on board in respect of the achievement of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and that ministry in particular.

Touching on the aspect of budget for the ministry, he asserted that when former President Kufuor first introduced MOWAC, a name that was in operation until he exited office, the budget as far as his knowledge of it was concerned was minimal, but now that the name had been changed, one could just imagine what it would be stressing “the change of name would automatically have an effect on the budget base of the ministry.”

Mr. Davis was speaking in his capacity as the Chairman of the newly launched Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Nimbus Foundation, which was formed this year at the British Council in Accra.

His explanation that in the course of the programme, which stemmed from the fact that women and children were the most vulnerable in society, and that the ministry in question should have focused primarily on the duo, so as to facilitate and assist in bringing to the fore the problems that they go through.

He also used the opportunity to advise women and children to rise to the occasion and contribute meaningfully to society. While acknowledging those already at the forefront of society, he added that “women have catapulted into social, economic and political spheres of society. They have moved and continue to occupy higher positions in society and should be encouraged”

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nimbus Foundation, Mrs. Joyce Opoku-Boateng pointed out that the foundation believes in women’s central role in nation building and that empowering women to appreciate and assert their rights would be giving them a tool for self-esteem, which is the fulcrum to poverty alleviation and national development. “An empowered woman will bring up empowered children for national development,” she added.

Explaining what pushed her drive in this direction, the practicing lawyer noted that she conceived the idea through her long-standing experience with the work of women, especially women advocacy.

Realizing that she had to make an impact in the lives of women and children, she was confident that those who go through her NGO would cause a change in development when given the proper care.

She also assured that she would work closely with government and other local and international bodies for funding to afford her the opportunity to attend to the needs and problems of women and children.

“We will organize education and training programmes to address women and children’s rights violations, particularly in areas of human trafficking, child labour and domestic violence,” she added.

Executive Director of Women in Law and Development (WILDAF), an NGO, Mrs Bernice Sam, who gave the key note address, reiterated the position of the NGO, noting that it was advocating for the vulnerable and excluded groups in society. This social underpinning of NIMBUS was what she saw as welcome news.

She further advised women, especially ladies in school, to take advantage of the foundation as that was one of the avenues they could turn to, in times of trouble.