Annisaa Foundation, a leading Non-Profit Organization (NGO) of professional Muslim women in Ghana has brought together hundreds of Muslim couples together for a networking dinner in Accra recently.
The maiden post-Ramadan event which was organized by the all-young female Muslims foundation was attended by some key Muslim personalities including the Governor of Bank of Ghana, Dr. Abdul Nasiru Isahaku, the Managing Director of Stanbic Bank Ghana, Alhassan Andani, and a former deputy Minister of Fisheries, Dr Harun Majeed.
Delivering a short but impressive speech, the President of Annisaa Foundation, Madam Rukaya Iddriss said: “Our main purpose of organising this dinner is to bring together couples to have fun in a relaxed environment and also discover the potential of our professional workforce”.
She urged the participants at the event to feel free to move around and share pleasantries, saying the foundation was poised to organize more of such events in the future.
Presenting an overview of the foundation, the Secretary of the Annisaa Foundation, Lawyer Humu-Annie Seini was happy to add that the foundation which was set up in 2004 is living the dreams of its founders.
She noted that the vision of the foundation is “to have a well-structured network of professional Muslim women who will promote socio-economic empowerment in Muslim communities.
While the foundation’s mission is: “To develop the potentials of women and the youth, through educational, counseling and mentoring programmes.”
Lawyer Seini was quick to add that the goal of the foundation was to contribute towards improving the status of the less privileged in society, especially women and children in the country.
“Our objectives are to carry out programmes for underprivileged Muslims, particularly women and children; sensitise members and target groups on Islamic and socio-economic issues; and liaise with other relevant organisations, both locally and internationally for the promotion of our goal and objectives”, she stated.
Although the foundation is very young, Lawyer Seini and her colleagues were very proud about the achievements chalked so far.
These they mentioned include the sponsorship of brilliant and needy girls, mentoring and counseling of students of Suhum Islamic Girls’ Senior High School, and Al Walid Islamic School, Cleaning of Abossey Okai Central Mosque, and Accra Correctional and Borstal Institute.
However, Lawyer Seini disclosed that the challenges of the foundation were inadequate funding, lack of office accommodation, and lack of logistics were affecting the work operations of the foundation.
She therefore used the opportunity to appeal to individuals, organizations, and others to support the foundation to enable it change more lives in the country.
Presenting a paper on a topic: ‘Striving Towards a Happy & Fulfilling Marriage in Islam’, a renowned Chatered Banker and expert in Islam Marriage, Hajia Azara Abubakar-Haroun said: “Islam, is a strong advocate of marriage”.
The general purpose of marriage is that both sexes can provide company to each other, love to each other, procreate children and live in peace and tranquility by the commandment of God, she explained.
The Managing Director of Stanbic Bank Ghana, Alhassan Andani who spoke on wealth creation urged Muslims in the country to invest in the education of their children to enable them contribute their quote to the socio-economic development of the country.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Bank of Ghana, Dr. Abdul Nasiru Isahaku was joined by the members of the Annisaa Foundation to launch the foundation’s website at the networking dinner event.
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, African Eye Report
