Story:  Chris Nunoo, Lawra

TRADITIONAL councils in the Upper West Region have embraced the concept of enstooling queens (Pognamine) in various communities in the region to support their chiefs in the development of their respective areas.

The concept, which is more prevalent in southern Ghana, is being championed in the region by personnel of the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CIKOD), a non-government organization.

Just as it is in other parts of the country, women in the northern parts of the country are marginalized to the extent that in some instances they could not even appear at certain functions for fear of being humiliated, let alone contributing to discussions on important issues or taking active part in decisions that affect their welfare.

The estoolment of queens in various traditional councils in the area is seen as a positive step to help curb cultural practices like the widowhood rites which are demeaning to womanhood.

Consequently, traditional councils in the region are introducing more queens (Pognamine) in divisional or sub divisional traditional areas in decision-making.

To promote the concept, the Lawra Tradional Council has enstooled a new queen (Pognaa), Naa Funaayel Karbo I, at a grand and colourful ceremony at the forecourt of the Lawra Naa’s palace.

The ceremony, which is the first of its kind in the traditional area, attracted many dignitaries, including the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issaku Salia, and the Lawra District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Samson Abu. There was also the presence of very prominent traditional rulers like the President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs and Dorimon Naa, Naa S. D. Gore II, as well as the Nandom Naa, Naa Puore Puobe Chiir VII.

Known in the private life as Miss Elizabeth Naayel Karbo, the 67 year-old queen of the Lawra paramountcy was the daughter of the late Naa Joribie Akodam Karbo I and Madam Tugrisue Saazu Karbo of Tuori village. After her education, Naa Funaayel Karbo, who became a social worker, worked with many organizations where she contributed her quota to the development of individuals and the country in general.

She was once the headmistress of the Tamale Women’s Training Institute between 1982 and 1986, the National Women’s Training Centre in Accra 1998-2002, and also served as the Lawra District Community officer from 1992-96.

Naa Funaayel Karbo also ventured into other social work after which she went into local politics and she became the assembly woman for the Lawra Naagan Electoral Area. She is a strong advocate in terms of the development of the youth and women, and has special interest in cultural affair. She is married with four children.

In an address during the introducing ceremony, the new queen pledged her support to the chiefs, and said she would help to enhance the development of the area.

She expressed appreciation to the people of the area for accepting to give women a place within the traditional council and appealed to the government to nurture women’s leadership institutions in the country to take their rightful place so that women could contribute immensely towards the development of the country.

Naa Funaayel Karbo also urged the national regional houses of chiefs to make women’s participation in decision making a key part of their deliberations.

*Source:

            Daily Graphic             Page:   11                    Saturday, July 9, 2011