Hajia Alima Mahama

The Hajia herself was recently the subject of a newspaper bashing! She had been "accused" of snubbing her colleague MPs at a parliamentary caucus meeting because of a FIDA meeting. FIDA is a legal NGO that supports women and children.

The issue came up at the Meet-the-Press. "Did you snub the caucus meeting?" She was asked.

Answer: "No I was not snobbish. I was raised properly and would not put up such an attitude. I cannot discuss this issue in depth because it would amount to exposing details of caucus meetings which is not allowed."

She answered the question without showing any sign of anger to the admiration of many who sat watching her as she read her main report.

It was St. Valentine's Day. Did she perhaps deliberately adorn herself with a red mayafi (veil)? She wished the media persons a happy Valentine's Day which set the tone for her interaction.

One of the political innovations of the Kufuor administration was the creation of a Women and Children Ministry of which Hajia Alima is the second Minister and first woman from the North to head.

She was able to post a clean bill of health for a Ministry whose activities are constrained by inadequate budgetary funding among others.

These notwithstanding, Hajia Alima told the press and various feminine groups who had filled the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information that last year had been good for her ministry.

Some of the women who turned up at the Hall did so to solidarise with their colleague woman and to associate themselves with the Women and Children Ministry.

During her address the Minister who is also the Nalerigu MP served notice that, "This year is going to be an action one against Child Defilement."

She disclosed that the incidence of child defilement is on the increase in the country and called for the support of all in stemming it.

For her, those caught defiling children, should be paraded in the streets and their photographs splashed on the pages of newspapers.

The Women's Ministry she said has chalked a number of achievements since she assumed the mantle of leadership there.

The ministry she said has fulfilled its international obligations in various forms and has influenced policy formulation, which seeks to enhance the status of women and children.

The role of women in poverty alleviation she noted cannot be overemphasized. Her ministry she said, has initiated a number of programmes towards the provision of micro-financing to assist them clear the hurdle of inadequate funding.

To solve the problem of debt recovery, the ministry has initiated an education programme which it is hoped would remedy the situation.

A number of measures, she disclosed have been put in place to enhance the early development of the child across the country.

The scientific creation of appropriate database for certain subjects peculiar to gender issues she announced has been put in place by the ministry.

Towards poverty alleviation she said her ministry is involved in certain functions of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture because these can promote the cause of women throughout the country.

Her focus for the year 2006 she said would be capacity building for gender development, ICT for women and the empowerment of queen mothers throughout the country to enable them participate in gender development matters.

Additionally she stated that her ministry would continue to ensure gender-favourable legislation.

"There is C70 billion in the system for the support of women's activities and that is why we are working hard at ensuring that these are accessed for the development of the Ghanaian woman" said the Minister.

Incidentally, Hajia Alima's Meet-the-Press, which discussed women and children's welfare in Ghana, took place when groups, led by the NDC were in the streets kicking against proposed legislation on extending the franchise to Ghanaians living abroad. Ghana is now a beautiful place with all the freedoms being practiced at full throttle.