Widows and vulnerable members of society received business support and words of encouragement at a humanitarian outreach programme organised by Yahweh For All Outreach and Evangelism Ministry in collaboration with Hope of Widows and Their Children Alive (HOWICHA), spearheaded by the Nkosuohemaa of Worawora, Obaasima Nana Ama Anowaa Nyarko Boah. The event, held at the Latter-Day Saints Auditorium in Tema, was under the theme “Cultivating Hope and Turning Vulnerability into Strength.”
The programme was aimed at empowering widows through business support, promoting self-reliance and offering hope to vulnerable women. It brought together both Muslim and Christian widows, reflecting the organisers’ commitment to supporting women regardless of their religious background while promoting unity, inclusion and economic empowerment.
Addressing participants, Obaasima Nana Ama Anowaa Nyarko Boah shared her personal testimony of overcoming poverty and hardship, encouraging widows and other participants never to lose hope regardless of their circumstances.
She recounted how her mother once struggled to afford basic necessities and was often seen walking barefoot because of extreme poverty. She also revealed that she engaged in several petty businesses, including selling corn dough, cassava dough, fish and sachet water, to survive. According to her, those experiences taught her perseverance and the value of hard work.
The Nkosuohemaa further disclosed that her mother, a queen mother, was once detained in police custody after failing to repay a business loan on time. She said the incident became a turning point in her life, motivating her to work harder to improve her family’s circumstances. She also paid tribute to another woman who cared for and supported her throughout her childhood and education when her biological mother was unable to do so.
Encouraging participants to embrace love, she said people should not wait until they become wealthy before showing kindness to others. According to her, love is not measured by money or material possessions but by simple acts of compassion. She urged people to avoid hatred, greed and selfishness, stressing that happiness, love and a positive outlook can help people overcome life’s challenges.
As part of the outreach, about 65 widows and other beneficiaries received assorted items, including ice chests, bags of rice, vegetable oil, toiletries, soaps and detergents, to support their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
Blissful Children’s Home, which cares for children with special needs, also benefited from the donation exercise. Receiving the items on behalf of the home, Mr. Prince expressed appreciation to Obaasima Nana Ama Anowaa Nyarko Boah and the organisers for the generous support, describing the donation as timely and beneficial to the welfare of the children.
Delivering a presentation at the programme, private legal practitioner, Lawyer Kwame Gyamfi, educated widows on their legal rights, particularly regarding inheritance and property ownership. He advised widows whose properties had been unlawfully taken following the death of their spouses to seek legal redress through the courts and other appropriate institutions, assuring them that Ghana’s laws provide protection against unlawful dispossession.
As part of the programme, Obaasima Nana Ama Anowaa Nyarko Boah presented citations of honour to about 20 benevolent donors and benefactors from across Ghana and beyond in recognition of their unwavering support for the outreach initiative. Among the awardees was media personality and host of Ahotor Mmre, the mid-morning programme on Ahotor 92.3 FM, Obaapa Jane, who was honoured for her dedication and commitment to the initiative since its inception. She was recognised for serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the programme and for consistently championing its mission of supporting widows, vulnerable children and disadvantaged members of society through advocacy and community service.
The event concluded with a renewed call for stronger support for widows and vulnerable children, with organisers expressing hope that the initiative would continue to transform lives by promoting hope, self-reliance and resilience among vulnerable groups across the country.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe
