Ghanaians as usual joined the rest of the world on Sunday, May 10, 2015 to commemorate the much anticipated Mother's Day, a day set aside to honour mothers for their invaluable impact on our lives. However, of all places, the spacious Volta Banquet Hall of the plush Holiday Inn near the Kotoka International Airport in Accra became the main centre of attraction as it came alive with a super event bringing together some of the crème de la crème of the Ghanaian society.
The event, 'Mothers' Day Lectures and Dinner' was hinged on the theme, "Essence of Motherhood in Holistic Development" and organised by the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation (CPR) with support from the Holiday Inn. It was a night replete with a perfect blend of education and excitement. With the award-winning Accra West Brigade Band arranging themselves finely in one corner and filling the hall with carefully selected smooth gospel tunes, the event started. A member of the Apostolic Council of the Great Commission Church International, Apostle Richard Adanu said the opening prayer invoking God's blessings for a successful event.
Speaking on the topic, 'The Ideal Mother', a pastor at the Kingsway International Christian Centre, Rev. Helen Yawson extolled the virtues of an ideal mother. Using the letters in the word 'IDEAL', she explained that the key roles of the mother summarily are inspiration, development, education, affirmation and love.
While noting that mothers may not be able to play all the roles excellently due to their imperfection, Rev. Yawson, who is also a vocal trainer, admonished that by dint of hardwork much can be achieved by the ideal mother.
According to her, mothers are supposed to be a source of inspiration for the family. They must let their children feel motivated by their words and deeds.
She said that "a mother must be able to fill their children with the ability to do something more than who they are". In order to achieve that, she advocated that the parents must speak positively into their children's lives and make them understand that "they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them"
Speaking on the mothers' role of developing and educating, the astute female preacher asserted that mothers must identify the unique abilities, talents and potentials of their children and nurture them. According to her, "a mother knows that no two children are the same", so she advised that the children must however be treated differently in their nurturing. She explained that the ideal mother nurtures her children differently while noting that it requires much effort to do that.
"It takes a skill to differentiate children and nurture them differently based on their unique abilities," she said.
Therefore to help the children develop their unique abilities, the Worship leader pointed out that, mothers must "give their children specific tasks based on their unique capabilities to nurture their talents".
To her, mothers must make deliberate effort to tutor their children to acquire certain skills that will help them in the future such as communication skills and house chores.
Rev. Yawson called on all mothers to affirm their children. To her, mothers must continually tell their children individually that "I believe in you". With this affirmation from the mother, the child is less likely to seek advise from outside.
She concluded her lecture admonishing mothers to show genuine love to their children and always say, "I love you" to them.
On her part, the Chief Executive Officer of GDA Concepts and host of Standpoint, Dr Gifty Anti noted that irrespective of the height of achievement of anyone, without the influence of the mother in the home, there is always a void.
Speaking on the topic, 'When mothers are absent', she recounted her personal experience bemoaning the lack of significant motherly influence in her life even when the mother was alive. She however, showered impressive accolades on her father who even during his retirement as a Gold Coast trained police officer did not relent but did everything he could including taking up menial jobs such as a watchman to see her through school.
Using her personal experience as an example, she noted that it is not just having biological children that qualifies one as a mother but "touching the life of a child [positively] means you are a mother".
The multi-award winning journalist cited several instances where some parents especially the mothers fail to discuss with their children sex related issues and some had been led astray. She therefore appealed to mothers to communicate with their children especially the girls to have a bond with them.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of CPR, Dr Emmanuel Kojo Hopeson took his turn to discuss the topic, "When mothers lead: An integrated approach" after the Brigade band had aided audience to sink the earlier messages with a short gospel highlife tune.
He noted that the family is the basic unit of the society. So any wrong in the society could be traced to the family. That is why he believes that the roles of everybody in the family must be played well to ensure a better society.
In doing so, the Minister of the Gospel and Counselling Psychologist noted that the mothers have significant roles to play as he defined the mothers as leaders.
"In leading, it is not a way of ruling or a way of authority. It's a way of contributing in helping to make the home home and to make the children feel cared for," he explained.
He observed that many women work tirelessly in order to be equal with men but he opined that that is not necessary as women are already equal with men.
"It is not now they are going to cry for equality, their responsibility is already to help support as somebody who has been endowed with strength to pick up and help somebody to fulfil a dream and a vision," the Integrated Marriage and Family Therapist noted.
He discussed some stress levels among mothers. Some of which according to him, among other things, are as a result of work and career and finance and limited resources. He therefore called on the women to seek expert help to deal with their stress.
The Minister of the gospel concluded his lecture by inviting all and sundry to join in praying for the development of the country and seeking reconciliatory blessings from God.
In his closing remark, a Supreme Court judge, His Lordship Justice Victor Dotse noted that some mothers could be very mean to their own children. He cited an instance where a mother was using monies meant for her son's school fees and upkeep to buy funeral clothes. The legal luminary advised all mothers to seek the interests of their children and eschew any behaviour that hinder their children's progress.
In attendance was also the Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre, Major-General Obed Boamah Akwah.
The ever-sensational gospel singer and writer, Uncle Ato was there to perform some of his all time hit songs.
The programme was emceed by Joseph Appah.
Joseph Appah is a Professional Corporate & Social MC
