TRIBUTES FOR EDNA KUMA

THE SUN SET FOR OUR DEAR VICE PRESIDENT OF AFRICAN WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (AWLA) HER EXCELLENCY EDNA LESLIE KUMA

BUT HER LEGACIES LIVES ON

 

We at African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) join AWLA Ghana, the Kuma family, the Ghana Bar and the good people of Ghana to celebrate a fulfilled life, the life of our dear Vice President EDNA LESLIE KUMA

 

She was called to the Bar on November 17, 1982. She was in private legal practice for a decade with the Law firm of ANIEYI CHAMBERS 1983 – 1993

She later went into corporate practice as head of Administration and Company Secretary at the Ghana Oil Palm Development Company from 1997 – 2000

She served effectively and efficiently in the board of many companies and Organizations namely;

International Federation of Female Lawyers ( FIDA)

1997 – 1998

2. African Women Lawyers

Association 1997 – December

2023

4. Danpong Group of Companies

2004 – 2010

5. Vision Fund 2002 – 2015

6. Legal Aid Board 2001 – 2013

7. Land Oil Company 2011- 2018

8. Heritage Academy School

2009 – 2011

9. Kweku Hutchful Foundation

10. Alive and Kicking 2015 -2019

11. African Leadership and

Management Academy 2002-

2009

12. International Leadership

University 2015 – date

13. Yoherbet Law Consult 2008 –

date

14. Everlast Investments 2010 –

date.

An intimidating and impressive resume, I must say.

 

She was a seasoned, dogged and fierce advocate for human rights. She Co. Founded the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) and rose to the position of the Executive Director of AWLA Ghana, Country Representative AWLA Ghana and in 2019 rose to the Zenith as the Vice President of AWLA Globally.

 

She was a great asset to the Association as she became a renowned, seasoned and top notch resource person and consultant in the Civil Society Community in human rights advocacy, trainer of trainees, guest speaker and keynote speaker at various seminars and events nationally and internationally and our representative in the African Union and ECOWAS.

 

A very passionate, Committed, dedicated and consistent advocate for many decades. She was an excellent and purposeful advocate, legislative drafter and lobbyist, a workaholic and result oriented.

 

In recognition of Her Excellence and positive impact on humanity she was given the following awards

 

AWARDS

 

Pursued programs for AWLA for Silver Award : ‘Women Development Advocacy Services’ in Ghana in 2005

Seal of Excellence: Award by WISE for Dedicated Support and Commitment to the Empowerment and Healing of Abused Women and Children in Ghana-2009

Certificate of Recognition: Recognition of Contribution to the Promotion, Protection and Fulfillment of Women’s Human Rights Specially to the FIDA Legal Aid Program-2012

CITATION : from Ministry of Gender of Children and Social Protection ( In appreciation of Exemplary Efforts to the Passage of Bills

TOP 5 Most impacting AWLAN award by African Women Lawyers Association 2021

African Influential Woman of the Year 2023 by African Women Lawyers Association

 

and many more awards, which for space we cannot state all here.

 

She was a giant in the human rights community and field. Ever ready, ever willing, ever available to work selflessly for humanity. She gave her all and emptied herself for humanity. She came, she saw and she conquered all!

 

She was a very kind and thoughtful person, a mentor to many, always ready to give listening ears and shoulders to lean on and a very responsible and dependable team player, amiable, jovial and larger than life.

 

We know what a difficult loss this is for us all, her family, AWLA Ghana, AWLA generally, the Bench, the Ghana Bar and several other Bars She had fraternised with in the course of her advocacy ( Nigeria, Kenya, Botswana, Cameroon, Gambia, USA, South Africa, Ireland, France, Germany and many others) We can only imagine the depth of the void that it will leave in her family, AWLA Ghana and AWLA Globally.

 

HER EXCELLENCY EDNA LESLIE KUMA is no more with us today but the essence of her life remains with us. She was an inspiration to many, a fierce, dogged and consistent advocate for women and children, ever warm towards all and highly hospitable.

 

She was such a precious gift and asset to humanity, if only we could stop her from leaving we would have stopped EDNA. She lived for justice and indeed fought for justice for the downtrodden, oppressed and marginalised. Her life, in her 3 scores and a few years plus, made a tremendous impact on humanity. She lives on in our hearts. We would surely and sorely miss her. Adieu EDNA!

 

On behalf of the entire African Women Lawyers Association, we pray that the Almighty God will comfort the Kuma family, AWLA Ghana,the legal Community and grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable and irreplaceable loss.

 

Thank you EDNA for the great legacies of Selfless Service to humanity, Character, integrity, dependability, dedication to duty, excellence and doggedness.

 

May the Almighty God rest her precious beautiful soul eternally in perfect peace!!! AMEN!

 

Your sincerely

Mandy Demechi-Asagba

PRESIDENT