Part of my personal reference documents are kept in the boot of my car. These references are in the form of notes and materials from the workshops that I have attended in recent times. Over the weekend whilst I was cleaning the car, I decided to go through the documents to refresh my thoughts on certain topics. It was in the process of doing this that I came across some of the notes I took during the 2nd African Feminist Forum (AFF) held in Uganda last year.
These notes were from the session “reconciling personal values and beliefs”. The essence of the session was basically to look at how personal values and beliefs influence the work of feminists fighting for equality and justice for all African Women.
A number of participants shared their experiences at this session. One person for instance mentioned an incident in which she was approached by a journalist who wanted to know if she was willing to do some research on the rights of lesbians in her country. According to this person, because of her own personal values and beliefs she quickly said no. Later upon reflecting on the issue she realized that she definitely could have handled it better.
At this session, the statistics of the millions of women who die every year in Africa from unsafe abortions was also presented. There is a huge difference between the numbers of women dying from abortions in countries where it is legal as compared to the countries where abortion is still illegal. As frightening as the statistics are and continue to be, some women are unable to be involved in what is needed to make abortion safe because of religious and moral reasons.
In his book the “Audacity of Hope” Barack Obama wrote and I quote “he believes that only a few women made a decision to terminate a pregnancy casually; that any pregnant woman felt the full force of the moral issues involved and wrestled with her conscience when making the heart wrenching decision. A ban on abortion would force women to seek unsafe abortions as they had once done in America and as they continue to do in countries that persecute abortion doctors and the women who seek their services” end of quote. This was in response to a man who approached him to say he disagreed with his views on abortion
I agree with Obama when he concludes by saying that we need to find ways of reducing the number of women having abortions.
It is extremely unfortunate for any woman to lose her life or develop a life threatening disease from an unsafe abortion. The issue on abortion has to be looked at dispassionately so as to ensure that women in the prime of their lives do not die prematurely.
I recall at the same AFF during one of the sessions I had a chat with a Sister sitting by me who thought that gay people needed counseling to reform. In her view if we continued to entertain gay people the population would decrease to a point where the human race may go into extinction. I immediately responded that I did not believe that day will ever come.
She then asked me what my own thoughts on gay rights were. I remember telling her that I believe we should learn to be tolerant of other people’s sexual preferences. She then asked me what I would do if I ever found out my child was gay. My response which still continues to be my worry is that I am afraid of how society may discriminate, label, ridicule and in some cases even abuse that child because he or she is different. I told her about the true life story of a 17 year old boy who was lynched to death by his peers because he dressed and acted like a girl. The mother of this boy never imagined that her community would be so intolerant to that extent but that is exactly what happened. I concluded by saying that it is for this reason that I want to play my role to ensure that every individual’s human rights are respected at all times.
In the words of John F Kennedy “if we cannot now end our differences at least we can help make the world safe for diversity”. Are you playing your part to make the world safe for diversity?
Gertrude Bibi Annoh-Quarshie
Finance Manager
AWDF
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Sisterhood in Weight Loss
Joining the AWDF Slimmers Club is the second best thing that has happened to me this year (the first being a deeper understanding of the Love of God).
In early May I got a mail from a colleague Nana, inviting interested sisters to sign on and join a slimmers club. I was not too keen but curious. I did not give my commitment but found myself at the first meeting on May 18, 2009. After being introduced to the concept I decided to give it a try and here I am today barely four weeks later feeling so proud of myself.
There is so much discipline in my life. I have stopped craving especially late at night. I have full control of my sweet tongue and have not had a coke, ice cream or chocolate in about two weeks, which is quite a feat for me. I do not have to park haphazardly to get something that I am craving badly for, which means I am also saving.
The best part is I have inspired my 11 year old daughter to become disciplined about her eating habits (she has the tendency to be overweight). She has become so committed to the slimmers concept and is presently keeping a log of the type of food she eats every day. She has become so empowered and has been explaining to her friends at school why she no longer joins them for their daily routine of buying and consuming fried yam and chicken after school or why she no longer takes drinks and biscuits to schools like her twin sister. She now takes only her lunch and good old plain water. She is committed to eating enough fruits to make up for all nutrients and fighting her cravings. She has become so knowledgeable that she is saving calories for a funfair she plans to attend this weekend.
I never thought my daughter or I could work on our weight, but barely a month after signing on to the slimmers club I feel a sense of accomplishment, I feel so fulfilled and I feel hip. Thanks sisters for creating the environment for me to find that inner power that has enabled me so far to stick to the plan.
The slimmers club seeks to provide the environment for members to lose or maintain a healthy weight. Joining the slimmers club involves attending weekly meetings, where we monitor our progress towards our individual and collective objectives. The meetings also serve as a support system for members. We share our thoughts, experiences; have nagging questions answered as well as share tips on how to stay on course.
Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom
Acting Grants Manager
In early May I got a mail from a colleague Nana, inviting interested sisters to sign on and join a slimmers club. I was not too keen but curious. I did not give my commitment but found myself at the first meeting on May 18, 2009. After being introduced to the concept I decided to give it a try and here I am today barely four weeks later feeling so proud of myself.
There is so much discipline in my life. I have stopped craving especially late at night. I have full control of my sweet tongue and have not had a coke, ice cream or chocolate in about two weeks, which is quite a feat for me. I do not have to park haphazardly to get something that I am craving badly for, which means I am also saving.
The best part is I have inspired my 11 year old daughter to become disciplined about her eating habits (she has the tendency to be overweight). She has become so committed to the slimmers concept and is presently keeping a log of the type of food she eats every day. She has become so empowered and has been explaining to her friends at school why she no longer joins them for their daily routine of buying and consuming fried yam and chicken after school or why she no longer takes drinks and biscuits to schools like her twin sister. She now takes only her lunch and good old plain water. She is committed to eating enough fruits to make up for all nutrients and fighting her cravings. She has become so knowledgeable that she is saving calories for a funfair she plans to attend this weekend.
I never thought my daughter or I could work on our weight, but barely a month after signing on to the slimmers club I feel a sense of accomplishment, I feel so fulfilled and I feel hip. Thanks sisters for creating the environment for me to find that inner power that has enabled me so far to stick to the plan.
The slimmers club seeks to provide the environment for members to lose or maintain a healthy weight. Joining the slimmers club involves attending weekly meetings, where we monitor our progress towards our individual and collective objectives. The meetings also serve as a support system for members. We share our thoughts, experiences; have nagging questions answered as well as share tips on how to stay on course.
Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom
Acting Grants Manager
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Grantee Focus: WILDAF petitions President Mills
Bernice Sam, National Coordinator of WILDAF Ghana shared with AWDF this update on WILDAF's efforts to secure representation of women in decision-making positions in Ghana
Accra, May 28, - Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF) Ghana on Thursday petitioned President John Evans Atta Mills to constitute Affirmative Action Policy Committee by the end of 2009 and take steps to implement its recommendations. It also urged the Government to take steps to achieve the campaign promise of 40 per cent representation of women in decision-making positions by 2012.
Addressing a press conference in Accra to highlight the reasons for petitioning President Mills, Ms Bernice Sam, National Programmes Coordinator of WILDAF, said the suggestion was one the ways that the Government could use to redeem the promise.
"On the 2010 District Assembly Elections and appointments, we call on Government to develop a policy that half of the 30 per cent quota for appointees will be women. Additionally there should be concrete measures - public awareness; capacity building and support for campaigns - to encourage and support women, who contest the District Assembly Elections," Ms Sam said.
She said figures on nominated and appointed women into public and political offices were worrying, adding that out of 75 Ministers and Deputy Ministers only 15, representing 20 per cent were women. "Three out of a total of 25-Member Council of State are women; on a 10-member Economic Advisory Council, none is a women; Police Council has only one woman out of 11 and out of 170 nominated Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives only 11 are women. Two out of that have lost. One awaits her fate in Shama District," she said. Ms Sam said the reminder became necessary because some where in February this year, WILDAF met the Government and presented a directory with lists of qualified women, who were in top positions and whose rich potentials could be tapped for national development.
Earlier, the group comprising women groups from Dansoman; Abokobi; Korle-Gonno; Kpobiman, among other areas, had planned a peaceful march to the Castle, Osu, to present the petition to President Mills but later had to postpone it because they claimed some media houses were branding their action as politically motivated.
"WILDAF is not a political party and would not be influenced by any political party but would continue to fight the cause of Ghanaian women," Ms Sam said.
They carried placards some of which read; "We know Politics"; "You promised us 40 per cent - What happened"; "Don't pay lip service to 40 per cent"; "Democracy is about equity" and "What happened to Acting IGP's appointment?" However, they sent a six-member delegation to present their petition to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Valerie Sawyer, who promised to deliver the petition to President Mills who is currently touring the Upper East Region. The Minister of Women and Children's Affair, Ms Sena Akua Dansua; Minister of Information, Ms Zita Okaikoe; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Moulds Iddrisu and some other women in government were present, when the petition was handed over, Ms Sam said.
Accra, May 28, - Women in Law and Development in Africa (WILDAF) Ghana on Thursday petitioned President John Evans Atta Mills to constitute Affirmative Action Policy Committee by the end of 2009 and take steps to implement its recommendations. It also urged the Government to take steps to achieve the campaign promise of 40 per cent representation of women in decision-making positions by 2012.
Addressing a press conference in Accra to highlight the reasons for petitioning President Mills, Ms Bernice Sam, National Programmes Coordinator of WILDAF, said the suggestion was one the ways that the Government could use to redeem the promise.
"On the 2010 District Assembly Elections and appointments, we call on Government to develop a policy that half of the 30 per cent quota for appointees will be women. Additionally there should be concrete measures - public awareness; capacity building and support for campaigns - to encourage and support women, who contest the District Assembly Elections," Ms Sam said.
She said figures on nominated and appointed women into public and political offices were worrying, adding that out of 75 Ministers and Deputy Ministers only 15, representing 20 per cent were women. "Three out of a total of 25-Member Council of State are women; on a 10-member Economic Advisory Council, none is a women; Police Council has only one woman out of 11 and out of 170 nominated Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives only 11 are women. Two out of that have lost. One awaits her fate in Shama District," she said. Ms Sam said the reminder became necessary because some where in February this year, WILDAF met the Government and presented a directory with lists of qualified women, who were in top positions and whose rich potentials could be tapped for national development.
Earlier, the group comprising women groups from Dansoman; Abokobi; Korle-Gonno; Kpobiman, among other areas, had planned a peaceful march to the Castle, Osu, to present the petition to President Mills but later had to postpone it because they claimed some media houses were branding their action as politically motivated.
"WILDAF is not a political party and would not be influenced by any political party but would continue to fight the cause of Ghanaian women," Ms Sam said.
They carried placards some of which read; "We know Politics"; "You promised us 40 per cent - What happened"; "Don't pay lip service to 40 per cent"; "Democracy is about equity" and "What happened to Acting IGP's appointment?" However, they sent a six-member delegation to present their petition to the Deputy Chief of Staff, Valerie Sawyer, who promised to deliver the petition to President Mills who is currently touring the Upper East Region. The Minister of Women and Children's Affair, Ms Sena Akua Dansua; Minister of Information, Ms Zita Okaikoe; the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mrs Betty Moulds Iddrisu and some other women in government were present, when the petition was handed over, Ms Sam said.
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