Grief grips Bawku over Hawa's death

Residents in the Bawku municipality are gripped with grief and disbelief over the news of the sudden death of its former Member of Parliament (MP), Madam Hawa Yakubu.

The shocking news spread very fast throughout the night and into the early morning of Wednesday as every gathering discussed her death but most people found it difficult to comprehend.

Madam Hawa Yakubu was reported dead at the Cromwell Hospital in the United Kingdom on Tuesday after a short illness.

Initially, there were mixed reactions to the news over her death. Others mistook it as a conspiracy by her sympathisers to attract political sympathy from the people whilst her supporters felt her opponents were insensitive.

Mr. Abdul-Rahaman Gumah, Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, expressed shock over the Madam Hawa's death, adding, “It's something we cannot fathom and it will be difficult to erase the memory of her in the history of the municipality".

He said it was unbelievable to hear of her untimely death at this stage of the NPP's quest to fulfill the dreams of the people she had fought for.

Madam Hawa Yakubu, a former matron of the Navrongo Secondary School, gained national prominence as the sole Independent Member in Parliament for Bawku Central that was made up of NDC, following the boycott of NPP in the Parliamentary elections in 1992.

She was so vocal against the dictates of the ruling party, earning her the accolade 'Iron Lady".

Mad. Yakubu, however lost the seat in the 1996 elections but recaptured it under the umbrella of NPP in 2000 and was subsequently appointed as the Minister for Tourism under the first administration of the NPP.

She again lost the seat in the 2004 elections before being elected the 1st National Vice-Chairperson of the NPP at its national delegates' conference held last year.

She is survived by three children.

GNA