REDISCOVERING HAWA YAKUBU

In commemorating the two years anniversary of the death of Madam Hawa Yakubu, the Hawafoundation has gathered quotations made by the “Iron Lady” of Ghana Politics and a Trail Blazer for many women in politics. The Quotations below shows Hawa’s depth, vision and far reaching understanding of politics as a mission and not a business. The believe that leadership must always connect, identify and be in touch with the people is also expressed in some of her words. It also captures her faith in non-violence and peace at all times.

HAWA ON EDUCATION

“ I was able to reach this milestone against, gender, cultural and financial impediments because I have experienced first hand, the power of education, which should be seen as a right and not a privilege. I see education as a panacea to unlocking the potential of the girl child who has been excluded and marginalized, especially in our rural societies. Education is one of the ways of attacking poverty. The whole community benefits when women are educated because women are the bedrock of every society.” (3rd March, 2006 ; occasion of her birthday)

HAWA ON PREJUDICE “Bigotry and prejudice are the worst things a man could be guilty of “ ( February 28th, 2006 : On the annual celebration of the infamous Shooting at the Christiansburg castle route, as a resulting of a demonstration by some gallant soldiers)

HAWA AND THE FUTURE

“ Amongst all the things that history will say about me I hope it will not fail to record that I appealed to the best hopes of people and not their worst fears, their confidence and not their doubts, my wish is that people tread the path of life with liberty lamp lightening their path and stretching and arm of opportunity and help.”

HAWA ON PEACE AND ELECTIONS

“I seek for political power and win any election I contest but if my winning the 2004 elections in Bawku central will lead to bloodshed then I prefer to lose to save and salvage humanity and precious lives” ( 20th November, 2004 ; Round up to the December elections)

HAWA ON DEMOCRACY

“ We should work at strengthening and deepening democracy and we must always work to protect the minority whose views our microscopic lenses always gloss over, their views must be respected at all times” ( 9th June, 1998 : at a GERDESS meeting)

HAWA ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EMPOWERMENT

“ I strive for a system where we will have a talented youthful populace whose business is to create an environment of daring thinking, test the boundaries and structures of knowledge and above all celebrate the unity that keeps us free”(6th march, 1992, On the occasion of Ghana’s Independence)

HAWA ON POLITICS

“Politics must always be a mission for politicians, it should be a convey belt for people to serve not to do business, people should show a two prong form of compassion, which to me is ; compassion by presence and proxy for our human race” ( Speech at a Camfed women’s meeting in South Africa, 9th June 2003)        Source :  Michael Appiah (legononline@yahoo.co.uk)

Courtesy:   Members of Hawafoundation:

Michael Appiah, Wales (michael.appiah@gmail.com)

E. Kofi Panford, Sms Consult, Ghana.

Allen Joe, London(kooljoe77@gmail.com)

James Bomfeh(Kabila), Accra - Ghana Kadiri , Accra - Ghana Yuki Ampofo, Accra - Ghana Joshua Tetteh, Accra Ghana Michael Whyte Kpessa Hamilton, Canada Patricia Amissah. Ottawa, Canada Seth Asamoah Accra, Ghana Yaw Boafo Agyeman Accra, Ghana

Margaret Nicco- Annan, Accra – Ghana Kingsley Nyarko Boateng, Iowa – US

Dr. Lambert Obbeng, Accra – Ghana Emmanuel Obbeng, London

Seth Asamoah , Accra - Ghana