Establish Foundation To Honour Hawa — MPs Suggest

Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday paid a glowing tribute to the late Madam Hawa Yakubu and called for a foundation to be established in her memory for the continuation of the ideals she stood for.

The deceased, who was a former MP for Bawku Central and Minister of Tourism, died on March 20, this year and has since been buried in her hometown, Pusiga.

The MPs made the call when they contributed to a tribute made by the MP for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Mrs Gifty E. Kusi, on the floor of the House.

In the tribute, the MP said Madam Yakubu would be remembered for her untiring commitment to democracy after the military intervention of December 31, 1981, which overthrew Dr Hilla Limann's government.

“A champion of equal justice for men and women, she was entrenched in the pursuit to uplift the lots of Ghanaian women, in particular, and African women in general”, she said.

Mrs Kusi said it was because of her love for the uplift of women that enabled her to break barriers to help all manner of women who were in need and did not allow religious, ethnic, status or political considerations to repress her.

“ Madam Hawa Yakubu was modest, selfless and hardworking; her death is indeed a big loss to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in particular, and the entire nation in general”, she said.

Contributing to the statement, the NDC MP for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga, said Madam Yakubu set high standards of generosity and the constituency would continue to remember her for that.

“Those of us in the constituency were waiting for the political advancement of Hawa to become either the presidential candidate of the NPP or running mate,” he said, adding that the youth and women in the constituency had been inspired by the deceased.

The NPP MP for Berekum, Captain Nkrabea Effah-Dartey (retd), said Ghanaians would forever remember Madam Yakubu for the constant smile on her face.

“It amazed me when after 50 years of age, Madam Yakubu went to GIMPA to further her studies”, he said and added that should inspire women to strive to push themselves to the top of the academic ladder.

To the MP for Jirapa, Mr Edward Salia, Madam Yakubu laid a foundation for Ghanaian women in politics “and but for her demise, she would have surpassed earlier Ghanaian women politicians”.

The Minister for Women and Children's Affairs and MP for Nalerigu/Gambaga, Hajia Alima Mahama, said it was very heart-warming that the President gave his assent to the Domestic Violence Bill the day Madam Yakubu was laid in state.

That, she said, demonstrated that even in death, Hawa continued to fight for the rights of women.

The MP for Wa West, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, suggested that the best the country could do for the deceased was not to recount her achievement but rather set up a foundation to champion what she stood for.

The Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing and MP for New Juaben North, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, described the deceased as “a politician par excellence” while the MP for Ho East, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, said she had inspired many women across the political divide and therefore called for the preservation of her memory to inspire future female politicians.

Story By Kweku Tsen & Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah