Source: Government of Ghana
Ms Afi Azaratu Yakubu, Executive Director of Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), has been acclaimed for being decorated with 2013 Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Peace and Social Justice.

The award was in recognition of her unwavering commitment to promote peace and security especially the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Ms Amina Montia, Savannah Women’s Empowerment Group Ghana (SWEGG) Convenor described Ms Yakubu as an advocate who is passionate about women’s empowerment.

“We the members of SWEGG are indeed very proud of her and appreciate the unflinching support she has given us this far.

“We hope the honour will create a platform for society to be more aware and appreciative of the role of women in keeping and bringing about peace in the country and the north in particular.

“Ms Yakubu and others are indeed the unsung heroines whose contributions usually go unnoticed. This is why we are truly pleased about the decision of the Embassy of the United States of America,” Ms Montia said.

“We the members of SWEGG view this as a real achievement, advancement for women’s empowerment and all persons who are gender sensitive when it comes to development should… consider the award as very important and ground breaking.

“She is an inspiration to women, like the three women in Africa and the Middle East who won the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for their contribution in the Arab Spring with a pointed emphasis on women's rights in the region.”

The prize was given to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian Activist Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni Rights Campaigner Tawakkul Karman.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognised them for their "non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work.

Ms Montia said Ms Yakubu follows in the footsteps of women such as Fehmida Mirza, first woman speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, who received the leadership award from a prominent American think-tank in 2012 for her inspiring records.

She has been personally instrumental in the success of Pakistan’s ‘Parliamentarians Network and its women, peace and security initiative.

The US Embassy said its decision to honour a female in the category of peace and security goes to show the confidence in her and her immerse contribution.

The embassy described the award as a celebration of the legacy of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr as a symbol of peace and security.

In November 2007,  former US Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater initiated the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award for Peace and Social Justice to recognise Ghanaian citizens who personify the philosophy and actions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr by helping to build a culture of peacemaking, dialogue and conflict resolution.

Since 1994, Ms Yakubu has worked as a researcher, conflict prevention campaigner, women’s equality advocate and citizen empowerment organiser.

She has been an instrumental partner in a number of organisations striving to raise awareness on issues that affect women, youth and marginalised groups.

In the 1990s, as deadly conflicts engulfed neighbouring West African countries, Ms Yakubu realised that, the flow of small arms into these disputes could spread, ignite and destroy the fragile political structures of the Sub-region.

Therefore, in 2000, Ms Yakubu led the founding of FOSDA.

Through her work with FOSDA, Ms Yakubu has implemented a variety of projects focused on reducing threats to human safety and security in Ghana and across the West African sub-region.

Ms Yakubu had partnered a number of civil society organisations to help found the West African Action Network on Small Arms in 2002 to address small arms trafficking in the region.

From 2006 to 2009, she served on the Ghana National Commission on Small Arms, in which she worked to form a legal network to stop small arms trafficking in the region.

Ms Yakubu’s passion to engage people in seeking positive social change has also led her to write, edit and publish essays, newsletters and informative materials that addressed topics ranging from sustainable agricultural practices and ethnic and cultural dance traditions to community police training and reduction of smalls arms in West Africa.

She was born in the Northern Region, which has one of the highest levels of illiteracy and poverty in the country.

• Ghana