Lariba Zuweira Abudu, Gender Minister-designate

Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Lariba Zuweira Abudu has rejected homosexualism and related activities.
According to her, the laws and culture of Ghana are opposed to LGBTQ and makes the activity illegal until, as a country, it is decided otherwise.
The Minister-designate, also Member of Parliament for Walewale constituency stated these when she appeared before the Appointments Committee to be vetted as the substantive Minister for the Gender, Children and Social Protection Ministry.

Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Alexander Afenyo-Markin who raised the matter asked the opinion of the nominee in view of the Promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values Bill currently in front of Parliament and the fact that it will criminalize people’s sexuality.

“Mr. Chairman, eh…. to me now, our laws frown on it and our values and traditions also frown on it. So to me now there is no law permitting it,” she stated.

The Deputy Chair who is aware the nominee is from the northern part of Ghana and also Muslim which are vehemently opposed to gayism and lesbianism decided not to push further and said,” I get the impression that you’re not willing to go further on that and so I will leave it there.”
Speaking on the School Feeding, the nominee admitted the 79 pesewas per day allocated for feeding each pupil falls far short of the resources needed to feed a child in a day.

She agreed this has to be adjusted upwards because it has been in place for long and things have changed over the many years that have impacted the amount for feeding each child.

“The government has taken cognizance of that and that is why it is doing something about it this year,” she said.

Hajia Lariba Abudu rejected suggestions the number of schools benefitting from the programme should be reduced in order to ensure the food provided will be nutritious enough.

She argued more schools should rather be included in the programme because it has an important role in retaining children in school.
She promised to engage the government to increase the feeding fee as the current allocation is woefully inadequate to feed the children.
Deputy Minister-designate for the same Ministry and also MP for Kwabre East, Francisca Oteng Mensah who was also vetted by the Committee expressed worry at the numerous betting halls springing up in communities.

She narrated how she entered a betting hall during her election campaign and discovered majority of people there were actually children who should not be gambling at all.

She called for stakeholder engagement and advocacy to address the canker because of the addictive power behind betting and gambling.
The Deputy Minister nominee, who happens to be the youngest MP and on the way to becoming the youngest minister at 29 years old was asked if she has any ambition to contest for the presidency in future.

Hon. Francisa Oteng Mensah disclosed she haboured the dream of becoming a legislator when she was a young girl and luckily she has achieved that and indicated there would aspire to higher heights.

She said, “I think there is nothing wrong for me to have presidential ambition. I will definitely aspire to be one so that I can inspire more young people.”

“By the records of Parliament, I am still the youngest member. Participating in local politics in my constituency inspired me to do more and inspire more young people, most especially young girls to also work hard to attain greater heights.”

She reminded the youth that age is not a barrier but just a number and that anything they wish to attain in life would have to be started now and all the efforts will come to fruition one day.