SEND THE GIRL-CHILD TO SCHOOL — SAM (D/G Monday September 1, 2008 PAGE 36)

THE Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Alhassan Samari, has urged Muslim women and mothers and their spouses to send their girl child to school and support them to the highest level in order to help them to attain their dreams.
"Let us disabuse our minds of the notion that the place of the girl or woman is in the kitchen. The ideal situation whereby Islam says the man should be the bread winner of the family does not in any way suggest that the woman cannot be a bread winner," he said.
Mr Samari was speaking at the 15th National Executive meeting of the Federation of Muslim Women Association in Ghana (FOMWAG) at Bolgatanga.
The theme for the occasion was “Peaceful election, the concern of the Muslim Woman”. The special guest of honour was the wife of the Vice-President, Hajia Ramatu Mahama.
Mr Samari, who admonished women to work hard to support their husbands, also urged them to take their destinies in their hands by educating themselves and their female children to stand up to the task of family and society.
"It is formal education that can guarantee you good employment, not to mention the immense impact your education would have on the decision-making process and the matters that affect you as women.
He said the government had done a lot and would continue to empower women to play their proper roles in society.
Hajia Ramatu also reiterated the need for women to invest in the education of their children. She also called on them to serve as ambassadors of peace and advise their husbands and the youth to embrace peace and be tolerant as the nation was about to have elections.
"The Zongos should not be avenues for the recruitment of thugs for violent activities by politicians," she cautioned.
The National President of FOMWAG, Dr Rabiatu Armah, and her Upper East Regional President, Hajia Sheitu Tahiru, in their separate speeches, both prayed for a peaceful and successful election in December.
The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Agnes Chigabatia, who deputised for the Minister for Women and Children's Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama, said women and children suffered most in times of violence.
They must therefore urge their husbands, irrespective of their political party affiliation, to pursue peace and not violence.