First Lady continues her advocacy to end discrimination of women accused of witchcraft


Ghana’s First lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama is continuing her advocacy to end the discrimination of women who are accused of witchcraft and sent out of their communities. 

Mrs. Mahama who has adopted the Gambaga Witches Camp in the Northern Region as one of her projects under the Lordina Foundation, says the country has a unique opportunity now to change the attitude towards elderly women and the less privileged in society. 

Speaking after another visit to the camp on Sunday where she donated assorted items to the inmates for the Christmas celebration, Mrs. Mahama called for a review of cultural norms that affect people negatively and only leads to discrimination especially against elderly women. 

The First Lady expressed the hope that in the near future, the problem of elderly women accused of witchcraft will be over, and there will be no member of these communities defending the practice. 

Through her facilitation, a women's vocational training institute is under construction by the GETFund to help the women and girls in Gambaga and its surrounding communities with skills training and development. 
   
Mrs. Mahama spoke about the importance of vocational and technical education, noting that government has good reasons for the renewed focus on vocational training. 

"We cannot overlook the importance of developing excellence across all professions for the social and economic enhancement of our society", the First Lady noted. 
 
The vocational institute when completed will provide beneficiaries with employable skills to be able to earn a living. She encouraged parents to support their wards to undergo vocational training, and not to discourage them. 
 
Also under construction at Gambaga are a student’s hostel for the Institute and residential accommodation for the elderly women.



GBC