SW women protest against lesbianism, forced marriage

Besides the plethora of problems plaguing the African woman such as; early marriages, limited access to education, poverty, among other things, the Southwest Regional Delegate of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Judith Mofa Liengu, has stated that, one of the challenging problems that the African woman is grappling with in recent times is lesbianism.

According to her, African women must stand up against lesbianism and uphold the virtues and values of the African woman.

Besides fighting lesbianism, the Delegate went on; African women must also say no to early and forced marriages, promote the education of the girl child and give meaning to womanhood.

Mofa was speaking in an exclusive interview she granted The Post on August 1 in Buea, during activities to mark the 51st edition of the International Day of the African Woman.

The event was celebrated under the theme; “The role of women and young girls in the areas of education, sciences and new technologies for an African renaissance.”

According to Mofa, the International Day of the African Woman provides an opportunity for African countries to look into the challenges faced by African women and look for ways to improve their living conditions.

Unlike in other countries where Government provides resources for the celebration of such events, the Delegate lamented that the Government of Cameroon did not provide funds for the commemoration of the event. This, she said, made the sensitisation campaigns to areas like Akwaya, Mamfe, Mundemba and Bangem, where most rural women are resident, difficult.

The Southwest women empowerment boss said due to the absence of funds, her delegation could only organise a round table discussion on CRTV Buea, in order to reach out to the women in the region.

The Delegate further said her delegation and some NGOs fighting for the place and rights of the African woman, are gradually reducing ills like; illiteracy among women and girls, early and forced marriages, female genital mutilation, among others.

She, however, admitted that, despite the strides being made to curb these vices, some areas in the Southwest Region are adamant to change. “The issue of early and forced marriages, female genital mutilation and other abominable acts perpetrated on the woman and girl child are still very rampant in areas like Akwaya and Manyu,” Liengu stated.

Asked how women can have greater access to ICT in a country like Cameroon with un stable power supply, Liengu said, “We were able to provide solar energy powered lamps to 98 homes in Muyenge. That is what we could do. It is not our responsibility to provide electricity to these localities”.

Commenting on the theme of this year’s edition of the International Day of the African Woman, Rebecca Eposi Ngeve, Lecturer in the University of Buea, said: “Before 1962, most African women had started going to school. But most of them were shying away from the sciences and technological departments. These two departments are not only very lucrative, but have proven to be the backbone of most economies in recent decades. So, this year’s theme is encouraging African women to get involved in these two departments to spur development.

All the women interviewed by these reporters said ICT has greatly revolutionised the way they do their businesses and communicate with their loved ones in other parts of the globe.