The late mother of
President John Dramani Mahama, Hajia Abiba Nnaba is likely to be buried
on Friday at her hometown of Busunu near Damongo or Bole, all in the
Northern Region.
According
to Michael Mahama who is a brother of President Mahama, the elders of
their families will meet by tomorrow to take a decision on the day and
place their mother would be buried after consultations among the two
families and that the family also await the arrival of their elder
brother Mr Alfred Mahama and younger brother Mr Ibraihim Mahama who are
both currently outside Ghana.
In
accordance to Gonja Tradition, a delegation from Bole made up of late
E.A. Mahama's family and chiefs representing the Bolewura, as well as
the DCE's for Bole and Sawla-Tuna-Kalba were sent to Busunu to
officially inform the family of Hajia Abiba Nnaba and the Busunuwura
about her passing on.
The
E.A. Mahama family and the Bole Chiefs led by the Tunawura also
requested for the burial of their wife and mother Hajia Abiba Nnaba to
take place at Bole where her late husband E.A. Mahama hails from but the
late Hajia Abiba's family and the Busunuwura turned down the request
saying the late Hajia Abiba Nnaba should be buried in Busunu.
The
delegation of the Bolewura and the E.A. Mahama family are on their way
to Bole to brief the Bolewura and the E.A. Mahama family about the
outcome of their visit to Busunu.
Meanwhile
people from all walks of life thronged the Tesano Apenkwa residence of
E.A. Mahama (father of President Mahama) to commiserate with the family
members in Accra.
Mother of President John Mahama, Hajia Abiba Nnaba has
passed away.
She is reported to have died at the SSNIT hospital
in Accra Tuesday after a protracted ailment.
According to close family source, Alfred Mahama who
is the first born is currently out of the country for medical review after a near fatal accident few months ago and is on his was to join the
family to bury their mother. According
to Gonja Tradition the first born has to be present before the burial which must be within three days.
The family is yet to meet to decide on the date for the burial which will take place in Damango.
VickyNews gathered that friends, sympathisers and
family members have started gathering at the family home of the Mahamas in
Tesano, Accra. Ministers of state, Parliamentarians, Presidential Staffers, Party members are also gathering at the President residence at Cantoment to sympathize with him.
Meanwhile, the Accounting to the people tour of the Greater Accra Region has been suspended.
ccounting
to the People tour of the Greater Accra region today[Tuesday]. - See
more at:
http://citifmonline.com/2016/06/14/mahamas-accounting-to-the-people-tour-hits-accra-today/#sthash.C1Ss7q2Y.dpuf
President
of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA)
and First Lady of Ghana, Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama has emphasized the
need for a good data to design effective and friendly HIV services for
adolescents.
According to her, this will help raise awareness
and mobilise resources in support of country programmes that focus on
adolescent reproductive needs.
Mrs Lordina Mahama made the call
when she addressed a High Level Side Event convened by OAFLA at the
United Nations High Level Meeting on Ending HIV and AIDS by 2030 at the
United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The OAFLA president
stated that it was against this background that, OAFLA had placed
importance on adolescents, in its current strategic plan, 2014 – 2018.
“To advocate for the adoption, of policies, that promote services for
adolescents, to raise awareness, and mobilise resources in support of
country programmes, that focus on adolescent reproductive health needs
is the way to go”, she noted.
The event convened with the support from UNAIDS, GAVI and PEPFAR was
under the theme, “Breaking the Silos: Empowered Adolescent Girls at the
Centre of the Response”.
She said the theme was very appropriate and timely as it highlights the
urgency, of mainstreaming, the empowerment of adolescent girls, across
the spectrum of the HIV response.
The First Lady said the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have
provided a clear framework, for focusing on adolescent girls across
sectors especially in Education, health, gender equality, reducing
inequalities and partnership, among others.
“Furthermore, our Fast Track mode, for the AIDS response over the next
five years, provides compelling justification, to focus on adolescent
girls by maintaining HIV firmly on the political agendas; and allowing
our young people, to guide the way for concrete action.
She said overall, AIDS-related illnesses, were the leading cause of
deaths among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the second leading
cause of death globally.
Earlier this year, in February 2016, OAFLA launched “A United
Continental “ALL-IN” Adolescent HIV Campaign”, during the 7th Africa
Conference on Sexual Health & Rights, in Accra, Ghana.
The
campaign called for intensified efforts, to prevent HIV infections, and
AIDS-related deaths amongst adolescents, through the concerted advocacy
of African First Ladies, vibrant and focused leadership of adolescents
among others.
Mrs Lordina Mahama indicated that a key requirement, to
achieving an AIDS-free generation, and attaining epidemic control was
the empowering of adolescent girls.
She said by actively engaging adolescents, in the design,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of HIV policies, services and
programs would greatly reduce new HIV infections.
She said Africa’s adolescent girls and young women were
seriously affected by the epidemic and were very vulnerable to HIV
infection, and AIDS related deaths.
The First Lady lamented that while great progress had been made, in
achieving the objective of universal services, for HIV prevention,
treatment, care and support, sadly new infections among adolescent were
rather increasing.
She said globally, new HIV infections have declined by 38
percent, over the last 15 years but every hour in Africa, 26 adolescents
aged 10-19 years were infected with HIV; leading to an estimated
250,000 new HIV infections in Africa alone with adolescent girls and
young women, aged 15 to 24 being especially vulnerable.
According to her in high burden countries, of Sub-Saharan
African, adolescent girls contribute a significant 30 percent, of all
new HIV infections and this was much higher than their percentage of the
general population.
For his part, the Executive Director of UNAIDS and
Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Michel Sidibe called
for a holistic approach to the AIDS menace.
He said it would be impossible to end AIDS if the adolescents were not
put at the centre of the approach.
The Executive Director of GAVI, the vaccine alliance, Mr Seth
Berkley said ending AIDS would take every leadership, organization and
everyone to do it right with the adolescent.
A 20 year-old student from Zimbabwe, Thandiwe Mudhumo who spoke on
behalf of adolescents living with HIV called leaders, organisations and
families to focus more attention on the adolescent to save their lives
and that of future generations.
First Lady Lordina Mahama has called on countries to prioritise child health services. Speaking at the an event to organized by the First Lady of Cote D’Ivoire, Mrs. Dominique Ouattara to present items to General Hospital of Yopougon in Abidjan, Dr. Mahama noted that children are the future leaders hence must be given all the care and attention to grow into responsible adults.
"As a mother, when it comes to children and their education and health, I am very passionate and concerned". "I can only encourage you, my sister, to keep up with your support and advocacy for the women and children of Cote D’Ivoire" she advised. Mrs Mahama emphasized that children brought to the hospital must be given urgent medication. "Development of our countries depends on the health of our people, and that begins with each family. We have to improve the general well being of vulnerable populations especially children and women" she stated.
The First Lady indicated that her organization, the Lordina Foundation, has been supporting health facilities in rural communities to help with good service delivery to women and children. "With support of MedShare USA, we have supported facilities with vital medical supplies and equipment, to supplement government’s effort" she noted. She commended her colleague First Lady Mrs Quattara for her passion to bring hope to the poor and needy. " I share the same passion and over the years, I have dedicated myself to helping to lift up the poor and vulnerable in my country. Just like you, Madam Ouattara, I support many needy students, and provide comfort to thousands of orphans". Mrs Mahama commended the medical officers and other personnel of the hospital for their hard work and commitment. She advised them to continue to work hard. She entreated the people to take their health very seriously by visiting the hospital or health centre, not only when they are sick. They should also go for check ups, and do what the health officials tell them to keep stay healthy and alive.
The First Lady expressed her commitment, as a mother and First Lady, towards the improvement of healthcare delivery systems and also to ensure a reduction and elimination of maternal and infant deaths. After presenting items, including Office desk and chairs, computer, wheelchairs, Baby cots and carriers, ward partition stands, diapers, Ghana Chocolate; rice grown and packed in Ghana; drinks and hospital clothing among other things to the hospital, the two First Ladies toured the maternity and paediatric wards of the hospital to interact with the children and women on admission.
The First Lady of Cote D’Ivoire also commended Mrs. Mahama for her selfless service to humanity and urged her to continue to her support for the vulnerable and the less privileged.
