Hanna Tetteh: “ An African woman is not an object of pity”

The New African Woman Forum Interviews

At the New African Woman Forum and Awards 2016, there was no red carpet rolling and no paparazzi cameras. Just glamorous inspirational, powerful women, done with the “what are you wearing” or “who did your hair and make-up?” stereotype. They were at London’s Andaz Hotel to discuss, debate and proffer solutions to the mounting and changing discourse on the status of women in Africa. We share abridged snippets of what some of them had to say in interviews with NAW’s  Belinda Otas

An African woman  is the reason why Africa has continued to survive,” Hanna Tetteh – Minister of Foreign Affairs & Regional Integration ( Ghana)

“First of all, women need to figure out what their aspirations are. And in order for these aspirations to be successful, they should not be the selfish type. It should not be just about “you”. You will never be able to do it alone. Secondly, be very prepared, have the drive and willingness to engage. To keep it simple, I would say African women need to understand what you want, be prepared, build networks, focus and keep at it. Love what you do!

The African woman is not somebody who exists on the fringes… is the reason why Africa has continued to survive, in spite of everything we have been through.

I would also like people to see the African woman for who she is right now. We do not need to create a new brilliant African woman, I think the brilliant African woman already exists – she just needs to be a showcase in all her various wonderful facets. Everyone should know that an African woman is strong, she is resilient, she is focused, she is innovative. She is able to do so much with so little and few resources.

Moving forward and looking to the future, everyone should realise that the black woman, the African woman is not an object of pity. She is not somebody who exists on the fringes, but is the reason why Africa has continued to survive, in spite of everything we have been through.”