By Philip Tengzu
Wa, (UW/R), March 7, GNA-Pognaa Rosemary Bangzie Mumwilma, the Queen Mother of Duong traditional area in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, has been nominated for the prestigious CelebrateHER Empowering Women Summit Award in recognition of her exceptional contribution to the development of her traditional area and beyond.
The Summit, organised by the Balmaisha Foundation, sought to acknowledge and celebrate the “remarkable accomplishments of women” who have made significant strides in shaping their society.
A letter signed by Fayudatu Yakubu, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Balmaisha Foundation, addressed to Pognaa Mumwilma, said “…your nomination serves as a testament to your outstanding leadership and dedication to making a difference.”
It added that Pognaa Mumwilma exceptional achievements and profound impact on society had been recognised and the Foundation deemed it necessary to honour and celebrate her contributions.
The Balmaisha Foundation eulogised Pognaa Mumwilma saying, “Your relentless efforts in empowering women through your initiatives have not only inspired others but have also contributed to the advancement and empowerment of women in Ghana and beyond”.
The summit is expected to be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, alongside the International Women’s Day celebration, in Tamale.
Pognaa Mumwilma was enskined the Pognaa (Queen Mother) of Duong in January 2021 and she had since contributed significantly to the development of that community.
In 2023, she mobilised her community to initiate the construction of a community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) facility in the community to enhance access to healthcare service.
The facility also housed an adolescent health corner to enable young people in the community have access to Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) services.
Her efforts in constructing the health facility were recognised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID/LRI), which supported the community to complete the project.
Pognaa Mumwilma also recognised the importance of enhanced capacity of Pognamine (Queen Mothers) in the region as key to strengthening them to contribute to socio-cultural development of their respective traditional jurisdictions and the region in general.
As such, she secured funding from the USAID/LRI to implement the “Networking of Queen Mothers with Chiefs and Fulbe Women Leaders in the Upper West Region” project to train 96 Pognamine on leadership, conflict resolution and prevention of violence extremism.
As part of the project, the pognaamine who were trained also played an advocacy role to network themselves with the Fulbe community within their jurisdictions.
Pognaa Mumwilma is currently the Treasurer of the Upper West Female Chiefs Association (UWFCA), an association of Queen Mothers in the Upper West Region.
In her professional life, she is a Public Health Nurse with over a decade of experience and is currently the Adolescent Health Services Focal Person at the Upper West Regional Health Directorate.
She is also a Senior Health Promotion Manager and received the “Outstanding Regional Level Staff – RHD (1st Runner Up – National Level) award in November 2024.
Pognaa Mumwilma was also recognised with a citation by the God is Able Youth Association Zambogu (GAYAZ) in January 2025 for her “unwavering commitment to fostering youth and adolescent development”.
GNA