Queen mother concept to boost women's empowerment – ASUDEV

Mr Malik Ali Gbene, Programme Coordinator of Action for Sustainable Development (ASUDEV), an NGO has observed that the adoption of the Queen Mother (Hakuoro) concept in Northern Ghana can help enhance women’s empowerment drive in the area.

He however cautioned that the concept should be properly managed in order not to arouse social disharmony.

Mr Gbene made the observation when he made a presentation on community’s consultation findings on the Hakuoro concept at a forum with members of the Tumu Traditional Council at Tumu in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region.

He said the ASUDEV/STAR Ghana Grassroots Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Project (GGEWEP), seeks to harness the Hakuoro concept to help leverage women empowerment in the area.

STAR Ghana is a multi donor pooled funding organisation aimed at increasing civil society and parliamentary competence in governance.

Mr Gbene said the consultations which covered Dolibizon, Bujan, Tafiasi, Banu, Pina, Pieng, Challu, Kong and Timbaga communities were focused on four main themes.

These are eligibility criteria for the selection of Hakuoro, roles and functions of Hakuoro, appointment and succession procedures as well as procedures for their codification.

Mr Richmond Dombo, an Assistant Research Officer at the Regional House of Chiefs, cautioned that despite the variations in customs and traditions among different groups of people, the selection and enskinment of queen mother’s should reflect the Chieftaincy Act 2008 (Act 759).

This, he said would forestall any unforeseen circumstances in the future.

Kuoro William Baah, Chief of Bujan, talked on the Chieftaincy Act 2008 (Act 759) and the contextual reflection of the Hakuoro concept.

He touched on the need for Queen Mothers to be selected from the royal lineage to avoid any future repercussions.

Madam Catherine Dudimah, District Gender Desk Officer, supported the adoption of the Queen Mother concept in Northern Ghana and appealed to women to support the idea in order to make it viable.