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Nana Oye Lithur: Mother For The Aged Hopeless And Vulnerable, (1)

Feature Article Oye Lithur, Minister Of Gender and Social Protection
JUN 29, 2016 LISTEN
Oye Lithur, Minister Of Gender and Social Protection

Nana Oye Lithur, has defied the odds and indeed have left one to doubt the authenticity of the words of the late Chinua Achebe of Nigeria when he said that "the problem of Africa is squarely a failure of leadership".

It is expected that in this generation, we learn from history. As it is said over communities in the Middle East, that, "they Never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity". Ghana for some reasons never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. However, it is not too late to change our character and begin to honour selfless leaders in our country today.

Leadership is explained as the ability to guide, direct or influence people. Factual! It must be understood that "selfless leadership" is one we lack in today's Ghana. That is not to say we have no selfless leaders. One of the selfless leaders Ghana has produced over the ages is Nana Oye Lithur.

As a Ghanaian who believes in the future of this country, i took the pain to do a background check on this noble woman who today has inspired, changed and given hopes to many lives.

BACKGROUND
Nana Oye lithur has a Bachelor of Law (BL) from the school of Law, Accra, in 1992 and a master in Law, Human Rights and Democratization in Africa from the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2001.

Nana Oye Lithur is the Chief Executive Director of the Human Rights Advocacy Centre and is a respected human rights lawyer and activist in Ghana. Since 2004 she has worked as the Regional Coordinator (Africa Office) for the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI). Nana has been involved with the Coordinated African Regional Survey on Access to Information for Ghana, as well as running an access to justice program and a human rights clinic and coordinating the Coalition on the Freedom of Information Bill in Ghana.

Hon. Lithur has led several fact-finding missions to investigate human rights violations in Ghana and has also worked as a lecturer, presenting Human Rights/CHRI human rights

lectures for journalism students. Ms. Lithur has also been recognized for her work in human rights and in 2008 was a recipient and champion torch bearer for women’s rights, one of 100 selected globally by the Danish Government. She was also a recipient of Vera Chirwa Award for human rights in Africa, in the year 2007, from the University of Pretoria. This event is a co-sponsored BusEco PAL Program.

Today, she is currently the minister for women, gender and Social Protection. It is no wonder, that this noble woman was appointed to man this ministry. Do we have to talk of her competence? Not at all. She has risen beyond that.

In 2014, she was adjudged the second best performing minister alongside Hon. Collins Dauda. As a human Rights activist and advocate she pays important visits to the prisons, to check on the welfare of inmates and to encourage them and to let them know all is not lost. That there is hope for the tired and weary.

It is not lost on me that Hon. Nana Oye Lithur has been passionate about the fight against human Rights abuse. Not so long ago, she advocated for the abolishment of witches camps which are mostly found in the Northern part of Ghana. And as a feminist, she has the love for gender equality - whether a man or woman, she believes the sexes are of equal strengths. She has campaigned and continues to campaign for women to get involved into politics and also effective in decision making.

Most importantly, she has not lost her role as minister incharge of social protection. It is recalled that a few months ago, she launched the EBAN elderly welfare card to protect the aged and safegaurd their access to social facilities. However, in efforts to reduce poverty, LEAP has made giant and significant strides under her regime. What again can one ask for? This clearly is a sign of good leadership.

It is this same woman, and under her watch, who saw the need to provide for 250 elderly persons items to support or aid them in last year's HOMOWO festival. Most of these women are less privileged. Hon. Nana Oye Lithur has been the hope of many today - through her ministry and humanitarian efforts. One cannot deny that. She is worth a mother. She is worth a leader. She is worth emulating.

Ghana says Ayekoo! Even through the turbulence, you never gave up. Focus was the name of the Game. Ghana shall forever be grateful for your immense contribution to her.

Mahama Socrates Samuel
0269007574
[email protected]
The writter is a student of Law at the Kings University College, Accra, Ghana.

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