Today is mothers day, initially, Sanatu Zambang Studios had plans to host these incredible working mothers in the studios. However, with the global coronavirus pandemic at large, the studios had to rethink how to give extra recognition to these incredible working mothers.
Mother’s Day celebrates motherhood and is a day to make an extra-special effort to recognize and appreciate mothers’ roles in our lives. Often this day is extended to generations of mothers grandmothers, great grandmothers, stepmothers as well as to mother figures.
Motherhood confers upon a woman the responsibility of raising a child. This process also changes the way in which she is perceived in society and at her workplace. It can necessitate her to take more than available leave options, and job security can be at risk.
Significant social and personal adjustments are necessary to cope with such a situation. A working mother, especially one who has the good fortune to be able to balance her home and work, enjoys the stimulation that a job or career provides. She develops the ability to raise a useful member of society and at the same time gains financial independence. Along with motherhood, work adds to the completeness of being a woman.
Jayita Poduval and Murali Poduval
According to Jayita Poduval and Murali Poduval, one could define a working mother as a woman with the ability to combine a career with the added responsibility of raising a child. Within this broad term may be encompassed two different categories of working women: the stay at home mother who works from home and the woman who works away from home while managing to fulfill her maternal duties.
Material aspirations and the necessities of daily life often compel both parents to work. A qualified woman may insist on working to maintain an effective career and be financially independent. The single working mother is a combination of these entities, working not only to run the family but also maintaining her position as a financially independent head of the family.
Below are some of the incredible working mothers we have either hosted in our studios or have had contact with during our quest for improving the livelihoods of women, girl child and young women in the Northern Region.
Mariam Iddrisu was elected Mayor of Sagnarigu Municipality, Northern Region – Ghana, in May 2017, and is the youngest Mayor in Ghana. She is currently one of the Vice Presidents of the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa (REFELA-West Africa). Prior to being elected as a Mayor, she was a Public Health Practitioner working with the Ghana Health Services.
Clara Napaga Tia Sulemana is a Ghanaian politician and a presidential staffer of the Nana Akufo-Addo led government. She is the daughter of Alhaji Tia Sulemana, a founding father of the New Patriotic Party in Ghana. Sulemana had her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Integrated Development Studies with a focus on social, political, and historical studies from the University for Development Studies Upon completion of her undergraduate study, Sulemana started her journey in politics as a campaign aide to the New Patriotic Party. She was later appointed as a presidential staffer when the party won the 2016 presidential elections. Sulemana sits on the governing board of the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Gertrude Kasei Kunde-Kwallinjam is a renowned banker and the founder of Smockyworld, she is the Northern Regional Sales and Services Manager for Fidelity Bank Ghana and takes charge of all the bank’s branches and agents in the Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East, and Upper West Regions. Gertrude also holds a Commonwealth Executive MBA certificate from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and is a product of the University of Ghana, where she studied Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology between 2002 and 2006.
Hawa Malechi is a gynecologist at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. She attended Tamale Senior High and proceeded to Legon medical school to study medicine. She graduated with10 awards. Dr. Hawa has also attended the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the West Africa College of Surgeons. The places she has worked include Accra, Koforidua, and Cape Coast.
Hafsatu Sey Sumani holds a Master of Science in Local Economic Development as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Development Studies. She is currently the Head of Programme and Policy of NORSAAC, a local Ghanaian gender-based advocacy NGO. Hafsatu is committed to women and young people’s empowerment and she has been involved in education and social work for the past 20 years. She is currently leading advocacy on the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in the Northern Region of Ghana.
Zuliaha Sofo Wuni works with UNICEF, Tamale. She attended Tamale Senior High school. She proceeded to Tamale Technical University then Tamale Polytechnic and then to Cape Coast to obtain her degree. Currently, she holds a master’s from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). She has previously worked with Gold Coast Security, a financial institution.
Hajia Alima Sagito-Saeed is the Executive Director of Savannah Women Integrated Development Agency (SWIDA).
Rabi Abu, CEO of Adee’s food, she studied at University for Development Studies, where she started her food and beverage business. Rabi also studied at the Institute of Commercial Management (ICM-UK), Government secretariat, and Takoradi Polytechnic. Rabi currently works at SIC Tamale.
Kawusada Abubakari is the Gender and Governance Manager of NORSAAC and National Secretary at Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage. Kawusada has a degree in Integrated Development Studies and awaiting her MPhil in Agricultural Economics.
Hajia Ayishetu Seidu is the first female MCE for the Savelugu-Nanton and one of the three female MMDCEs appointed by the President in the Northern Region.
