ACCRA DIOCESE EMPOWERS WIDOWS ON INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS' DAY

Story: Emmanuel Ashong, New Aplaku

In a bid to highlight the plight of widows and empower them on their rights, the Accra Diocese of The Methodist Church Ghana has organised a sensitisation event for widows in the Diocese.

The event which came-off on July 01, 2023 at the Bethel Methodist Chapel, New Aplaku, formed part of activities planned for this year’s International Widows’ Day, a day set aside by the United Nations since 2011, to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanize the unique support that they need.

About a 100 widows and widowers were schooled on the essence of widowhood rites, property rights and the role of the Church in championing advocacy for widows.

Explaining the essence of widowhood rites, a Counsellor and a Lay Preacher with The Methodist Church Ghana, Mrs Juliana Akushie disclosed that the ceremony was aimed at severing ties between a spouse and her deceased partner. According to her, widowhood rites must involve family members of both partners and often takes between one to three days.  She also noted that the church has a duty towards widows.

The Minister in-Charge of the Peniel Methodist Church, New Aplaku, the Rev Hedwig Naa Tolloo Quist highlighted the Church’s role in advocating for widows, stressing “caring for the widow and the fatherless is not just what God does; it’s who God is.” She asserted that it is the role of all Christians to advocate, support, and ensure the wellbeing of widows.

Speaking on the theme for this year’s International Widows’ Day, ‘Upholding the Humans Rights of Widows: The Law and Cultural Practices’, a Ghanaian Barrister at Law, Madam Vida Agyekum Acheampong told participants that Ghana has several legislations for the protection of widows’ rights. She disclosed that the law frowns on ejection of widows from their legitimately acquired matrimonial homes as well as denying widows access to private properties acquired in the marriage. Lawyer Acheampong urged widows to report cases of abuse against their rights to the Police for action.

The event which was organised under the auspices of the Gender, Family and Social Interventions Office of the Accra Diocese, was attended by the Director of Gender, Family and Social Interventions Directorate of The Methodist Church Ghana, the Very Rev Comfort Ruth Quartey-Papafio and her counterpart in the Accra Diocese, Sis Rebecca Nettey.

Some participants, who were mostly drawn from the various Circuits in the Diocese, shared harrowing experiences at the event. Funds were raised to support widows in the Diocese.