A Widow’s Burden: Fighting for Dignity in a Broken System
A Widow’s Burden: Fighting for Dignity in a Broken System
It was a hot, dry, airy day outside. But, of course, my office was cool as usual, thanks to the small forest behind it that kept the room cool, even though it wasn’t air-conditioned, and the door always stayed open.
The lawyer walked in with a young woman who looked tattered, though this did not hide her immense beauty. For the sake of privacy, I will call her Winpoka, though that is not her real name.
“I need you to help this woman,” the lawyer said to me. He went on to explain that she had lost her husband and all her belongings in a fire that gutted their home. She had nothing to wear, and her situation was dire. While they were working to secure her late husband’s benefits, she needed immediate social support.
Without delay, I called my colleagues, and together, we gathered clothes from donations and some food supplies for her.
At the time, Winpoka had two children, the youngest being a toddler. On her next visit, we had a deeper conversation, as we usually do with all widows who come to our office. The main plan was for Winpoka to begin trading with the capital she would receive, which would help her feed her children, keep them in school, and gradually rebuild her life.
Like many widows, it was clear that Winpoka didn’t have the luxury of grieving. She had to reset her life, learn to earn a living, and become the household’s sole breadwinner—a role her income had only supplemented before her husband’s death.
The expectation placed on her was overwhelming but not rare. Despite her best efforts, the odds were against her. She eventually sought an easier way out by remarrying, hoping her new husband would provide some support. This, however, turned out to be a mirage. After she became pregnant, the new man decided there was no point in continuing the “campaign” now that the “election” had been won.
It’s likely he saw an opportunity to benefit from her late husband’s benefits, which she had just received. But this money didn’t last long. Her father demanded she pay her own dowry—a dowry her late husband had never fulfilled, as custom required. The dowry, consisting of three to four cows, had to be paid. Otherwise, her children would not be recognized as her late husband’s, according to tradition.
Winpoka used part of the money to construct a modest house for herself and her children, and the rest went to her father for the dowry. Once again, she was left penniless.
Eventually, her new husband saw her as a burden he wasn’t willing to bear, and the relationship ended.
Her hardships worsened after the birth of her third child, as she now had three mouths to feed with no support. When the marriage ended, she returned to the office seeking more capital to restart her trade.
Having learned from her experiences, she approached her trade with renewed determination. But unknown to her, her eldest daughter, a sixth grader, was being sexually assaulted. The truth came to light when the girl resisted one day and was beaten, leaving her with visible bruises.
The case was reported and taken to court. However, while the wheels of justice grind slowly, for the poor, they often halt entirely, grind sporadically, or are clogged by bureaucracies, extortion, and the lack of commitment from some of those entrusted to protect them.
Winpoka’s daughter for five months endured bloody discharges but could not access treatment because her mother couldn’t afford it. Thankfully, she returned to the Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM) for help. With our support, her daughter is now doing much better. We continue to pray that this beautiful girl receives counseling and can live a fulfilling life going forward.
Winpoka’s story is just one among the countless everyday struggles widows face. The state, community, and family failed both Winpoka and her daughter, and we should all be ashamed.
We must do better. We must condemn social norms and practices that undermine the rights and welfare of people. We must also commit to the work we do because our actions—or inactions—have real-life consequences.
The state must provide holistic support to victims of abuse.
Next time you’re tempted to act wrongfully, remember what goes around comes around.
- Written by Fati Abigail Abdulai Executive Director-Widows and Orphans Movement LBG (WOM)
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WOM’s 2023 Success Story: A Second Chance at Vocational Education for my daughter
Monica Azure is a 42-year-old widow from Bongo Bogrigo in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region.
She became the sole provider for her three children, relying on selling koose (bean cake and kenkey for survival. She was introduced to the PROMIC programme by a friend who was a client.
Subsequently, she formed the Asongtaaba Group of Bogrigo with six (6) other friends of hers and they applied to the scheme.
Ms Azure received Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH₵500.00) from the first disbursement and invested in her koose and kenkey business. Her subsequent loans were One Thousand Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH₵1,500.00) and Two Thousand Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GH₵2,500.00) respectively.
Monica has since procured a new deep freezer and put up a store for the trading of daily provisions. Over the period of her investment, her monthly profit has increased by 44.4%.
My first child was not able to go to Senior High School (SHS) because of my financial difficulties. This saddened me all the time. However, I was able to enroll her to acquire a vocational skill as a seamstress and she graduated in 2022. WOM/Swiss hand will forever remain in our heart and prayers
Monica Azure
WOM’s 2023 Success Story: Goats, Women’s Assets
- Our Success Story 1 for 2023 project is Baamah Nauh
- This Success was achieved in collaboration with ActionAid Ghana
Sarah Aziyaaba, a 45-year-old member of the Yagzore women’s group, embodies resilience and transformation. Originally reliant on farming and selling firewood, Sarah struggled to support her family’s needs, particularly her children’s education. Joining the Widow and Orphans Movement women’s group offered her a supportive community and opportunities for growth.
With WOM/AAG’s assistance in 2020, Sarah received two female goats to diversify her income. Through training in animal care, she successfully expanded her goat herd, surmounting challenges and boosting her earnings. The revenue from goat sales proved invaluable during financial hardships in 2022, enabling her to cover exam fees and launch a porridge business within the community.
I successfully grew my goat herd by eight, though two died, I sold three. The proceeds from these sales became a lifeline during a financially challenging period in 2022, covering exam fees and providing essential learning materials for two of my children. Additionally, it empowered me to venture into a porridge business within the community.
Sarah Aziyaaba
After gifting two female goats to a member of the group as agreed by my group and WOM/AAG, I still retain two goats. Starting the porridge business with an initial capital of 250 Ghana cedis, I’ve witnessed remarkable progress, now affording items totaling around 400 Ghana cedis
Despite hurdles, Sarah’s business flourished, underscoring WOM/AAG’s transformative impact on livelihoods. Her journey exemplifies the resilience and community backing vital for achieving financial stability and empowering women.
WOM’s 2023 Success Story: Dapoore Women’s Soap Making Journey
The Dapoore Women’s group was one of the group that benefit from the black soap and business management training with support fromthe KGL foundation.
The group discovered, while undergoing training on record-keeping and profit determination, that they were facing losses in their bar soap-making business—a realization that took them by surprise. Additionally, they found that the profit margin from their black soap production fell short of the industry standard.
Upon investigating the cause, they identified a crucial issue: despite having a scale, they rarely utilized it to measure raw materials and final products, resulting in uneven soap weights that often exceeded the intended target. Consequently, they continued selling the soap at the regular price, unaware of the discrepancies, leading to their financial losses.
Upon rectifying this by incorporating the scale in their subsequent production processes, their profits surged by 20%.
It is worth noting that, this group was one of the few ones that continued to produce bar soap before the training on black soap and business management training when most of the others had stopped due to losses. They kept injecting capital into their soap-making business not realising that it was not profitable until the training. The group is now more united and has proceeded to keep records for their other businesses too.
WOM’s 2023 Success Story: Baamah Harvesting Success
- Our Success Story 1 for 2023 project is Baamah Nauh
- This Success was achieved in collaboration with ActionAid Ghana
Baamah Nauh, a 47-year-old member of the Sakote women’s group in the Nabdam district is a farmer, pito breeder, and a mother of six children—2 girls and 4 boys.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of benefiting from a number of interventions, which include sensitizations, training, and participation in group farming initiatives. This sense of belonging has allowed me to share my experiences, learn from other women, and actively participate in the VSLA, enabling me to save for the future. In 2022 and 2023, WOM/AAG supported our group in organizing a demonstration on tilled and untilled land to find a climate-smart and cost-effective approach to farming. The knowledge gained from these activities motivated me to implement these new farming practices on my maize farm. Dividing one acre into two equal parts, tilling one part and leaving the other untilled. The results were remarkable—4 bags of maize from the untilled land and 3 bags from the tilled land.
Baamah Nauh
In 2023, she participated in an Agric business management training organized by WOM/AAG. It focused on record-keeping and marketing. The training enlightened her on better financial management practices.
Previously, I used to spend the money from selling pito without proper record-keeping. The training emphasized the importance of recording expenses, enabling me to calculate my true profit.
Now, I can save up to 50 Ghana cedis, a significant improvement from before. This newfound financial discipline has allowed me to purchase more raw materials for my pito business, turning my initial three bowls of malt into seven, ultimately enhancing the growth of my business.
WOM’s 2023 Success Story: Gaan Mbabil’s Journey of Empowerment
- Our Success Story 1 for 2023 project is a journey of Gaan Mbabi
- This Success was achieved in collaboration with ActionAid Ghana
In the village of Tagore-Sakori, Gaan Mbabil’s journey epitomized the transformative power of women’s empowerment initiatives. Initially silenced by tradition and expectation, Gaan found her voice within the vibrant energy of the Yagzore women’s group and WOM/AAG’s empowering programs. As she listened to tales of resilience, Gaan shed her reservations, becoming a vocal advocate for gender equality and women’s rights. With newfound courage, she engaged her husband in discussions, gradually dismantling gender barriers at home and sharing household responsibilities.
Gaan’s transformation extended beyond advocacy. Stepping into leadership roles, she became Vice-Chairperson of her community’s PTA, championing parental involvement in education. Her dedication earned praise from the school’s headteacher, highlighting her as a beacon of empowerment. Gaan’s story embodies the potential of women’s empowerment initiatives to drive meaningful change. Through resilience and commitment, she not only transformed her life but also became an inspiration for her community, demonstrating the profound impact of empowered women leading the charge for progress.
transformed her life but also became an inspiration for her community, demonstrating the profound impact of empowered women leading the charge for progress.
2024 International Widows’ Day Address by Ms. Fati (Executive Director of WOM)
- Below is the speech delivered by our executive director at this year’s edition of the International Widows Day Celebration
Honorable chair, Mma Ayara Memorial Institute, heads of department, other CSOs and NGOs present, media, magnanimous widows, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the commemoration of International Widows’ Day 2024. This year, the Widows and Orphans Movement (WOM) is collaborating with the Mma Ayara’s Memorial Institute to mark the day on the theme ‘The role of mothers in the education
of children: Lessons from the life history of Mma Ayara Atampugre’
This theme is timely, vital and resonates deeply with WOM’s educational thematic area. Mothers are often the first educators in a child’s life. They are the nurturers, the caregivers, and the role models who lay the foundation for their children’s growth and development. In the case of Widows, they also take on the role of primary breadwinners and sole guardians. Their dedication, resilience, and unwavering love provide the stability and encouragement that children need to thrive academically and personally.
Today, we gather to celebrate the incredible strength and influence of mothers. We acknowledge their indispensable role in education—not just in terms of formal schooling, but in imparting values, fostering curiosity, and nurturing a love for learning. We recognize that education extends beyond the classroom and that mothers play a crucial role in creating a supportive and enriching environment where children can dream, explore, and achieve their potential.
Unfortunately, many mothers that have become widowed have to navigate the complexities of single parenthood. The loss of a partner often brings significant financial, emotional, and social challenges. They find themselves having to make the difficult decision of migrating to other areas where they can sell their labour for income or food. This means that the children are left to nurture, care, become breadwinners, etc. themselves. According to the Ghana National
Household registry in 2018 and 2019, over 57% of children (66,520, 42,218) not in school in the Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana are boys. Whiles this data does not go further to ascertain the percentage of these children who are orphans or have a mother that is widowed.
The data is alarming, and we should all be worried.
While WOM in collaboration with the Mma Ayara’s memorial Institute is committed to supporting these courageous women. We recognise that, the government needs to do better in rolling out and or implementing social protection policies to break the cyclical poverty these families experience. This country cannot afford to leaving anyone behind.
As we delve into today’s discussions learning from Mma Ayara’s life, let us remember the profound impact that empowered mothers can have on the educational journeys of their children. Let us explore ways to strengthen our support systems, create more opportunities, and advocate for policies that recognize and uplift the vital role of mothers in education.
On behalf of the board, management, staff and gallant widows and orphans who continue to rise against the odds, welcome.