By Tanya Maswaure
The Covid 19 pandemic has affected many communities in diverse ways, including socially, mentally, and economically; but the individuals who had the shorter stick were those who were already in challenging and unfortunate circumstances. Before the pandemic, data from the Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM) showed that a significant proportion of the female population in Ghana are widowed (Over 700,000 representing over 86% of all widowed persons in the country as of 2010). Also, with statistics showing that men are the significant breadwinners, especially in Africa; one can only imagine the struggles widows withstand. The pandemic has only escalated this issue with a total of over 5000 deaths due to covid in the past two years in Ghana alone. Fortunately, 500 widows had their holiday season completely elevated recently thanks to Hon. Lariba Zuweira Abudu’s great and very touching initiative.
Hon. Lariba Zuweira Abudu, a member of parliament in the Walewale constituency in Ghana, and Ghanaian Deputy Minister of Gender and Children and Social Protection, celebrated the new year with hundreds of widows drawn from different communities in the Northeast region of Ghana. She presented hampers worth over 300 Cedis each to all the widows with additional money to help them celebrate their new year. She said, “I was touched by the widows who live in destitution and despair, and as I had a fulfilling 2021, my resolution for this year is to touch the lives of virtually all widows in this municipality”.
As the deputy minister of gender, children, and social protection, Hon Abudu has always been an activist for women, particularly older women. Having spoken in other interviews about some of the challenges women go through, she is clear that she is passionate and well versed in this regard. With this knowledge and the staggering and moving facts on the struggling widows in her region, she chose not to turn a blind eye to this group but instead put in all her effort to make their lives different.
“I took it upon myself to approach friends and philanthropists to put this together, and for their help, I am entirely grateful,” Hon. Abudu exclaimed at the event. The event was filled with joy and music, and they were all welcomed with drums and exclamations. On her arrival, she embraced several of the widows, and media reported that it was indeed a successful and heart-warming event.
After much celebration and praise from all the beneficiary women, she promised that there would be visible change and improvement for all widows in the area under her stewardship. Hopefully, with the help of many other politicians in the country, the widows of the Northeast region will have a better life.
“A person may rightfully be happy if in this life he could do a great favour for widows and orphans, assist and support them, and facilitate fate of people.” ~ Islom Karimov
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