The Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakite II, has conferred the ‘Yokama’ title on two female personalities in the traditional area at this year’s Ngmayem Festival of the chiefs and people of the area.
The two are the current headmistress of the Manya Krobo Senior High School (MAKROSEC), Mrs Agnes Dawuki Nanor Nater, and a businesswoman, Ms Florence Aku Tetteh.
The Yokama Day, which has become one of the major activities of the annual Ngmayem Festival, was instituted by Nene Sakite 13 years ago to confer the title on women identified in the Manya Krobo Traditional Area for works and activities that impact positively on the society and the country as a whole.
The Konor also introduced a 46-year-old banker with the Manya Krobo Rural Bank as the development queenmother of the traditional area with the stool name Manye Angmorkuor Yoko.
Presentation
At a durbar at the forecourt of the palace to introduce the personalities, Nene Sakite hinted that the award was going to be national and international when the need arose.
“The time has come for me to expand and extend the Yokama award to not only Krobos, but non-Krobos as well.
My main aim is to reward hardworking ideal women in the traditional area irrespective of their tribe or race.
So I know that people may criticise this laudable idea but I, who established the event, remain focused and nothing can sway me from carring out my intention,’’ Nene Sakite said.
“My aim concerning Yokama for now goes beyond tribal lines.
It is rather aiming at who is performing to the benefit of the area and not where the ‘Yokama’ is coming from,” Nene Sakite emphasised.
He said the development of the country would not be complete “if we as a people do not involve more of the females in whatever we do”.
He explained that gone were the days when women were relegated to the background, adding that such acts impeded national development.
He announced that he had registered ‘Yokama’ as a foundation and, therefore, it had come to stay. He urged every resident in the Krobo area irrespective of tribe to work hard in order to earn the Yokama title.
Recognition of women
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Cynthia Mamle Morrison, lauded the Konor for instituting the Yokama Day, saying it had brought to light ideal women in the traditional area.
“The institution of the celebration of Yokama Day brings to the fore the huge recognition the Krobo State places on gender parity and the promotion of girl-child education,” the Gender Minister stressed.
She said the women who were honoured should serve as examples and role models for society, especially the women, to attain heights that were formerly considered as alien to women.
The Minister hinted that she was going to advise the metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives in the various districts to replicate the Konor’s Yokama Day even if it was in a different form to help project the women towards leadership.
She stressed the need for parents to help groom both boys and girls so as to complement each other, adding that when one developed at the expense of the other, the equation would not be balanced.
The Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Simon Kweku Tetteh, also praised the Konor for his initiative, saying it had gained roots and started bearing fruit.
He assured that the assembly would give the necessary support to the Konor’s programme anytime it was needed to help groom the youth who would be the future leaders of the area.
