Kusal Widows and Orphans Foundation Launched

Bawku (U/E) April 12, GNA-The Winam Masim Widows and Orphans Foundation for the Kusal traditional area has been launched at Bawku. An amount of 10 million Cedis was also raised as seed money for the construction of an orphanage home, the first of its kind in the Kusal land.

Launching it, the Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, (MCE), Mr. Abdul-Rahman Gumah, noted with concern certain cultural practices that have neglected women in the decision-making process. He said some members of society have taken advantage of the vulnerability of widows and orphans and subjected them to inhuman treatment after exploiting them. Mr. Gumah called on traditional rulers to abolish some aspect of cultural practices that impede the development of women and children, adding that the total progress of society was a task for all to build on consensus.

The Bawku Naba, Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, said modern trends have provided an ideal opportunity for traditional rulers to reflect on some existing cultural norms in order to modify them to meet the challenges that were in conformity with the people's aspirations. He said modern challenges have also eroded communal feelings to cater for others, resulting in widows and orphans being neglected in their communities.

The coordinator of the foundation, Mr. Timothy Anaba, said the foundation was dedicated to the provision of better opportunities to widows and orphans as a means of reducing their over reliance on alms begging.

He said this would create a better platform for the widows and orphans to better their lot through education and engage income-generating ventures to make decent living.