Accra: The Anlo Queens Mothers Association in the Volta Region has been urged to steadfastly uphold their traditional roles of preserving culture, safeguarding children, and leading community development initiatives.
According to Ghana News Agency, the call was made during a capacity-building workshop in Anloga, where stakeholders emphasized the crucial role of queenmothers as custodians of tradition. They are seen as central figures in shaping values and driving progress within Anlo communities.
Madam Emmanuella Woelikplim Afetorgbor, the Gender Desk Officer of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in Anloga District, addressed the participants, underscoring the unique platform queens have as mothers and community leaders to promote positive change and social cohesion at the grassroots level. The two-day workshop, themed 'Empowered As One,' aimed to enhance the leadership, advocacy, and governance skills of the queens, enabling them to address modern challenges while upholding traditional values.
Madam Afetorgbor highlighted that approximately seventy participants attended the programme, which deepened the association's understanding of their roles as agents of peace, love, and sustainable development. She emphasized that queens are not merely ceremonial figures but active partners in community transformation.
She urged the queenmothers to leverage their wisdom and maternal knowledge to promote peace, unity, and progress throughout Anlo land. Additionally, she encouraged them to familiarize themselves with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and integrate these targets into community projects, particularly those related to education, health, and gender equality.
The Gender Desk Officer specifically tasked the queens with championing the rights of boys, girls, women, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. She stressed the importance of using their positions to advocate for the vulnerable and ensure inclusive community development efforts.
Madam Afetorgbor also highlighted the need for queens to embody boldness, fairness, and firmness, especially in mediation. Impartial conflict resolution by traditional leaders, she noted, can reduce tension and prevent small disagreements from escalating into community-wide issues.
Participants were further encouraged to take proactive advocacy steps on climate change, mobilize communities to plant trees, and adopt eco-friendly practices, recognizing the ongoing threat of climate change to livelihoods and the environment.
The workshop underscored the need for collaborative action against pressing social challenges such as Gender-Based Violence, teenage pregnancy, child labor, child trafficking, child marriage, and domestic violence, which hinder development in many communities.
Mama Wotorbe II of Avuto, President of the Anlo Queens Association, encouraged participants to cultivate a desire for continuous learning. She highlighted the importance of staying informed about laws, policies, and development issues affecting their people for effective governance as traditional leaders.
In an interview with Ghana News Agency, Mama Amegbe II of Anyanui expressed excitement about the program's success and stressed the importance of continuously building leadership capacity to tackle contemporary challenges like youth unemployment, substance abuse, and cultural erosion. She also urged queens to collaborate closely with chiefs and other traditional authorities to foster peace and sustainable development in the Anlo State.
The two-day capacity-building workshop was sponsored by the Heart of Ghana Mission and Mission Global Fellowship, reflecting robust partnership support for women's leadership development in the area.