By Eunice Hilda A. Mensah
Accra, Dec.03, GNA – The Golden Mothers Vision International in solidarity with the Coalition of NGOs for Women and Children, has called on the Police Service to apprehend and prosecute individuals who subject women, especially queen mothers to insults on social media.
Madam Abundant Hayford Aggrey, the National President, Coalition of NGOs for Women and Children, said a recent indictment on Mrs Millicent Adom Kyei Duah, (Nana Hemaa Owoahene Owoabrempong Ahwenepa Nkasa), was a stark reminder of the blatant disrespect and harassment that the queen mother had been subjected to.
Another attack, she condemned was the recent stripping of a Queen Mother of Kwahu Abetifi naked for destooling the “Adontenhene” of the area.
She said the misconduct was to be immediately discouraged and called on the courts to mete out harsher punishments to serve as a deterrent to others.
“The laws of Ghana are clear on this matter: The Domestic Act, 2007 (Act 732), for instance, prohibits all forms of violence against women, including emotional and psychological abuse. The Cybercrime Act 2012 (Act 831) also makes it an offense to use electronic communication to harass or intimidate others,” she said.
She, therefore, called on all citizens to join the fight against the disrespect and harassment of queen mothers, saying: “Together, we can create a society that values and respects the dignity and honor of all individuals, particularly our revered queen mothers.”
Mrs Adjo Palmer, a Board Member, Golden Mothers Vision International, said no one was perfect, however, the use of social media for insults and hate speech against a person’s integrity was highly unacceptable.
“Women are no less or more and as gender advocates, we have had enough of this blatant disrespect and are committed to fighting for justice for all queen mothers,” she said.
She called on the judiciary to ensure justice was served, the National House of Chiefs to protect the dignity of Chieftaincy, and the Association of queen mothers to stand in solidarity with all queen mothers, particularly Nana Hemaa Ahwenepa Nkasa.
For the part of Naa Obeye Dromo I, the Queen Mother of Mamprobi, Ngleshie Allata Traditional Council, a lot of women were making great impact on society, but were however excluded from decision making.
She said it was time to support women, saying gone were the days when women were left in the kitchen only to cook and feed the family.
“Now women are entering into the male-dominated professions like Engineering, and Piloting among others. Therefore I urge all to help bring out the goodness and potentials in women.
“Go to the national and regional house of chiefs, women are being left out and when they are there, they are only there as observers or support what someone says. Decisions are being taken on their behalf whether it is helping them or not,” she said.
Naa Dromo urged women to desist from giving out all power to men and be courageous to take up positions and speak their minds whenever necessary.
“All men are our heads but also our children and so we should all arise, come together, talk about the contributions of women. Let us women not allow ourselves to be suppressed. When there’s togetherness, it will get to a point where a woman could become a President of this nation,” she added.
GNA