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The Offinsohemaa, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko, recognises and appreciates the role and contribution of women and has therefore undertaken a number of initiatives to improve their lot.
Being an educationist, she has encouraged and supported many young girls in the Offinso Traditional Area to pursue various careers including teaching, nursing and midwifery and vocational training.
A lot of them are now in meaningful employment.
She has formed the Offinso Queen Mothers’ Association with the prime objective of promoting the unity and welfare among its members and to sensitise them to their roles and responsibilities as queens.
Nana Offinsohemaa believes that the cornerstone of development is education but expresses worry about the poor performance of pupils in the Offinso area in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
It is against this backdrop that as part of the activities marking her 25th anniversary, the ”Nana Ama Serwaa NYARKO Foundation (NASNGF) was launched at a durbar of chiefs held at Offinso in the Ashanti Region on Saturday July 21, 2012.
The foundation was launched by the Deputy Director of the Centre for National Culture, Kumasi, Nana Sarfo Kantanka at the durbar held under the chairmanship of the Manso Nkwantamanhene, Nana B.Kusi Appiah.
The launch of NASNF sought to raise GH¢1 million to also promote safe maternal delivery practices and reduce maternal and infant mortalities though sustained and proactive education on “Women-safe health practices”.
Another objective of the foundation is to bridge the gap between the rural and urban populations through the possibility of affording talented rural based school students from the basic to the tertiary level.
The NASNF would be located at the Offinsohemaa’s palace at Offinso and would be managed by a board of trustees which would include Nana Nyarko or her representative as a chairperson, two members nominated by the Offinsohemaa, a nominee of the Offinso Traditional Council, four others nominated by Nana Offinsohemaaa and a secretary.
It is expected that donations received, pledges and contributions during the celebration of the anniversary, contributions from the Offinso Traditional Council, families, friends would serve as seed money for the foundation.
This notwithstanding, the chairman of the Jubilee Planning Committee and Offinso Nifahene, Nana Kwaku Duah, who represented the Offinsomanhene, Nana Wiafe Akenteng III, in his welcome address, observed that the celebration of the silver jubilee was fulfilling.
According to him, Nana Nyarko’s quest to highlight the need to improve education, health and culture of the people makes jubilee worth celebrating and is a step in the right direction.
Nana Duah, who is also the Dentenhene, expressed gratitude to Asantehene, other chiefs and all individuals whose contributions had made the anniversary a success.
The Asante Mampongmanhene, Daasebre Osei Bonsu II, who also represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, praised the planning committee of the anniversary for their work output and prayed for long life for Offinsohemaa.
He asked that the celebration of the anniversary would bring unity and tranquility devoid of rancour and acrimony, especially before, during and after the upcoming December general election.
The Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Ms Wilson Animah, who represented the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, spoke on the theme, ‘Twenty-five years of a Queen Mother’s Exemplary Traditional Leadership-Promoting Women’s Health and Education of the Girl Child’.
She noted that the promotion of women’s health and education of the girl child were two very critical issues necessary for the development of the nation.
She pledged the government’s support.
She said as an embodiment of peace and advocate of women’s empowerment, Nana Ama Serwaa Nyarko needed to be given all the support and encouragement to promote education and health care and urged corporate organizations and individuals to support her initiative.
Source: Daily Graphic
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