A GNA feature by Philip Tengzu
Wa (UW/R), March 11, GNA – The USAID/LRI-funded “Networking of Queen Mothers with Chiefs and Fulbe Women Leaders in the Upper West Region” project has greatly impacted the socio-cultural lives of the beneficiaries, especially Queen Mothers in the Upper West Region.
It had, among other things, led to the establishment of the Upper West Female Chiefs Associations, a network of Pognamine (Queen Mothers) in the region to help strengthen the chieftaincy institution.
The project also fostered a cordial relationship between Pognamine and the Fulbe people, especially the women in their traditional jurisdictions, and built a fraternal relationship between the Fulbe women and Christian and Muslim women in society.
Pognaa Rosemary Bangzie Mumwilma, the Queen Mother of Duong Traditional Area in the Nadowli-Kaleo District and Coordinator of the project, recounted these in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Wa as the world marks International Women’s Day.
As the International Women’s Day was marked on the theme: “Accelerating Action”, the networking for change project was accelerating action for the empowerment of Queen Mothers to enable them to take their rightful positions and roles in society to contribute meaningfully to development.
The four-phased six-month project comprised leadership skills, conflict resolution, and Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) training for Queen Mothers; advocacy meeting between Queen Mothers’ and youth groups on substance abuse and peaceful election and Queen Mothers and Fulbe women and youth leaders’ engagement.
Project rationale
Despite their influential role in society, many Queen Mothers in northern Ghana assumed their roles without adequate training or understanding of their responsibilities.
With adequate training, they could serve, not only as mediators but also as agents for social cohesion in their communities.
As such Pognaa Mumwilma, currently the Treasure of the Upper West Female Chiefs Association, secured funding from the USAID/ Littorals Regional Initiative (LRI) to implement the “Networking of Queen Mothers with Chiefs and Fulbe Women Leaders in the Upper West Region” project.
A total of 96 Queen Mothers in all 32 Traditional Areas in the region participated in the project, which included leadership skills enhancement.
The training centered on leadership styles; code of conduct for Queen Mothers; branding and positioning, effective communication; advocacy; lobbying, and networking among others.
Project impact
The project trained 96 Pognamine on leadership, conflict resolution, and Prevention of Violence Extremism (PVE) as part of efforts to empower them to contribute to the socio-cultural development of their traditional jurisdictions and the region in general.
It also improved Queen Mothers’ collaboration with Fulbe women and Fulbe youth as well as male chiefs on issues of peace, security, and inclusion in the region.
The project had also helped to address some challenges Queen Mothers faced and consolidated their roles as positive change agents in their traditional areas.
Additionally, the Networking of Queen Mothers with Chiefs and Fulbe Women Leaders in the Upper West Region” project helped address the issue of marginalisation of minority ethnic groups.
“So, the Muslim and Catholic Women’s Associations have agreed that anytime they have activities they would invite Fulbe women.
Immediately after the engagement, some of the women’s associations organized community durbars and invited some Fulbe women and the Fulbe society and they took part,” she explained.
The project also initiated advocacy with paramount chiefs in the region towards ending negative cultural practices against women and girls including cruel widowhood rites and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Through the project, some Queen Mothers who were into weaving and dressmaking also pledged to train Fulbe women and girls who expressed interest in those trades since they often did not get the opportunity to go through those trainings.
Beneficiary account
Some beneficiaries of the project told the GNA that it had empowered them to meaningfully participate in social activities and promote peaceful co-existence between Fulbe people and the indigenes.
Pognaa Amamata Mumuni, the Queen Mother of Duori in the Wala Traditional Area, aside from enhanced leadership skills, the project also ignited the consciousness of the Queen Mothers to the sanctity of their offices.
She explained: “At first, you see some queen mothers dress in some ways, and doing things that did not befit their status, but during the training, we were made to know that as Queen Mothers you cannot dress in certain ways.
Also, the training has made us understand we cannot eat in public or engage in immoral activities because we are role models in society to many young women and girls.”
Pognaa Mumuni called for more such projects for Queen Mothers in the region to enlighten and empower them to lead effectively as well as promote peaceful co-existence.
Ms. Murihat Sidibe Suleman, a member of the Fulbe Youth Association of Ghana (FUYAG), stated that the engagement between the Fulbe people and Queen Mothers had created a bond between them.
She said they now felt part of society due to their involvement in some community activities such as durbars.
“Through the project, I have networked with the Queen Mothers and the other groups and associations that took part in the engagement.
It has benefited me and the Fulbe community; now are invited to be part of some activities in the communities,” Ms. Suleman indicated.
For her part, Ms. Margaret Joyce Dangah, a retired Prison Officer and farmer who also took part in the engagement, told the GNA that though she had been engaging Fulbe people on her farm, the project had encouraged her to enhance that engagement.
She stated that she had planned to train interested Fulbe women on cashew juice extracting to serve as a source of income for them.
Conclusion/ Way forward
The 96 Queen Mothers who benefited from the project are expected to trickle down the training to their peers as well as conduct outreach events to Fulbe women leaders, FUYAG members, and male chiefs in their traditional areas.
Pognaa Mumwilma indicated that a communiqué on the abolishing of harmful cultural practices in the region would be presented to the paramount chiefs of consideration with their divisional chiefs to abolish such practices.
GNA