By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
The Herald ghanaThe Herald ghana
  • Home
  • General
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Editorial
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Feature
  • Health
  • World
Reading: To my beloved wife, Aba’ – Kufuor’s tribute to his late wife
Share
Aa
The Herald ghanaThe Herald ghana
Aa
  • Home
  • General
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Editorial
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Feature
  • Health
  • World
Search
  • Home
  • General
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Editorial
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Feature
  • Health
  • World
Follow US
  • Advertise
Copyright © 2022 The Herald Ghana. All Rights Reserved
FeatureMajor 2

To my beloved wife, Aba’ – Kufuor’s tribute to his late wife

razak.bawa
Published November 16, 2023
Share
10 Min Read
SHARE

To my beloved wife, Aba

“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband safely trusts her …”
Proverbs 31:10-11

Shortly after what I now perceive as a clearly fore-ordained introduction by our mutual friend Dr Kwame Appiah-Poku, Aba and I met in person on 1 July 1961 at a ball at Battersea Town Hall in London, to celebrate Ghana’s first anniversary as a republic. Aba had just completed nursing school in Edinburgh and was on her way to pursue a midwifery course at the Radcliffe Infirmary, part of Oxford University. I was also on my way to Exeter College, Oxford, having just passed my Bar exams at Lincoln’s Inn in London.

My first impressions of my beautiful Aba were that of a soft-spoken and well-mannered lady; and within a year of bonding and courting, we both discovered that we very much enjoyed each other’s company. We had the same cultural tastes in art, music and cinema and shared similar social preferences. Consequently, we decided to tie the knot; and this we did at Brompton Oratory in Knightsbridge, London, on 8 September 1962.

We were joined by Chief, our first male child, on 6 September 1963. By mid-1964, shortly after completing our studies in Oxford, we moved to London to pursue our respective careers. Our second child and first daughter, Nana Ama, was born in Golders Green in London on 29 November 1964.

More Read

Kuffuor’s hypocritical endorsement exposed

Kufuor’s ‘doublespeak’: Endorses Akufo-Addo as best choice in 2020, then claims Bawumia will revive Ghana’s economy
NDC joins Dela Edem to extend an apology to former President Kufour
NPP back in Kufuor era cocaine costumes again?

However, due to overwhelming pressure from my family in Kumasi, we decided to return home to Ghana. Shortly after our return to Kumasi in January 1965, I joined Okomfo Anokye Chambers as a junior lawyer with Victor Owusu as senior partner. Aba later joined the Kwame Nkrumah University Hospital as a nurse/midwife. Soon after that, on 4 November 1965, Aba and I welcomed our third child, Saah, into our rapidly growing family.

Our fourth child, Agyekum, was born on 16 February 1968. By the time he arrived, I was already embroiled in the web of public service. I had been appointed in 1967 as the chief legal officer and city manager of the second city of Ghana, Kumasi. That was our entry into civic and public life in Ghana.

Aba had a very confident personality that fitted in with ease everywhere we went, and which also allowed her to cope under the most challenging of pressures. In 1969, I got elected as a Member of the Parliament of the Second Republic (for Atwima Nwabiagya in the Ashanti Region). I then also got appointed as Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs under the premiership of the late Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia.

So, our young family had to relocate from Kumasi to Accra. Aba, to my delight, took our evolving life in her stride as she adjusted effortlessly, and with confidence, to our new milieu of a life in national politics and diplomacy.

Between 1969 and 1971, with both Aba and me in our early thirties, our lives seemed to be on an upward trajectory. But this was to be truncated with a shocking and unexpected coup d’état on 13 January 1972, which arrested practically all the members of the government and threw us in prison. Our world had crashed.

Fifty-four of us, including cabinet ministers, junior ministers and some Members of Parliament, would remain in jail for a minimum period of between 12 and 15 months each; having initially endured – incommunicado, for almost eight weeks – denial of any contact with family or the outside world at Ussher Fort prison. This angel of a woman, to my amazement, would survive the ordeal of raising five children on her own – in my absence, Aba gave birth to our fifth and last child, Kofi, as a single parent on 16 June 1972. Her strong and exceptionally disciplined personality did indeed come to the rescue of our family.

I could not have foreseen the crash that befell us and could not, therefore, have made any provision for our ordeal. However, Aba rose above that. With her strong, prayerful faith in God, Aba’s spirit would not and could not be broken. She survived on very little then; and she truly kept our hopes alive. When allowed to visit me in prison, she left me with a sense of optimism that was most assuring. I survived my incarceration of 15 months largely because of Aba. She was a woman of sacrifice, devotion, humanity and resilience.

After my release from detention, she returned to practice nursing at Cocoa Clinic, where she rose to the position of the clinic’s first-ever matron. Only once did Aba strongly protest about my absence from home, as my entrepreneurial businesses kept me away for extended periods of time. Her commitment to our marriage and her exceptional will to be a loving wife, a caring home-maker and a firm but loving parent have produced the fruit of what our children have become today. She was firm, yet tender.

When I was elected to office as the second President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, Aba would play a pivotal but quiet role in shaping key social interventions, such as including the kindergarten stage for all the children of Ghana in the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education policy; the provision of one hot meal a day to primary school children across the nation; the launch of the National Health Insurance Scheme; and the introduction of free maternal care for all.

She also worked tirelessly as the founder of the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation to support early childhood development programmes across the country. Her Foundation built three schools and gifted them to communities in Nyanyanor in the Central Region, and in Kotobabi and Amansaman in Accra.

Through her Foundation, she also provided a breast cancer screening unit to a health-care services provider in Sunyani and she assisted bakers in Nsawam and Adoagyiri with baking equipment. She established a phone-in counselling centre to support and combat the stigmatisation of HIV/Aids patients. Remarkably, Aba rendered all her community action-based services without seeking any publicity.

Aba and I shared a gleeful sense of humour, which meant we could laugh at each other; just as we could naturally forgive each other for our unfailing human shortcomings. She and I embarked on many trips together as I pursued my political career and after I became President. However, what touched her most during our international trips was the recognition she received from Pope Benedict XVI, who bestowed on her the prestigious Papal award of Dame of
St Gregory the Great. Throughout her life, she remained a devout Catholic; a passionate worshipper; and a chorister of Christ the King Catholic Church in Accra.

Aba, your departure has left an unbridgeable void in my life; but I take solace from the many mercies and blessings the good Lord has showered on our journey of 62 years: living long; the blessing of beautiful children; 14 splendid grandchildren; the honour of having served our nation together; the gift of loving; extended families; and a network of friends around the world.

I am so thankful to the good Lord God for giving you to me as my life partner. Aba, you have earned
your good rest and as the words of the Apostle Paul go: “You have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith. Now there is in store for you the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to you on that day – and not only to you, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.”

Fare thee well, Aba. Adieu, my dearest love!

You Might Also Like

Kuffuor’s hypocritical endorsement exposed

Kufuor’s ‘doublespeak’: Endorses Akufo-Addo as best choice in 2020, then claims Bawumia will revive Ghana’s economy

NDC joins Dela Edem to extend an apology to former President Kufour

NPP back in Kufuor era cocaine costumes again?

razak.bawa November 16, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp Copy Link
What do you think?
Love0
Sad0
Cry0
Happy0
Surprise0
Angry0
Wink0
Previous Article Showmax reveals fresh new brand identity and plans in the build-up to its February 2024 relaunch
Next Article BoG releases list of unapproved money transfer organisations
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Latest News

Alex Apau Dadey honored for pioneering leadership and transformational business impact at Millennium Excellence Awards 2025
Business Major 2 May 12, 2025
Ntim-Fordjour dragged before Police CID over GH₵600,000 contract fraud
General Major 1 May 12, 2025
Africa must embrace structural reforms for stronger integration -Harakati Leader
General Major 1 May 12, 2025
Sammy Gyamfi’s dollar splash on ‘Agradaa’ triggers backlash & political storm
Major 1 Major Politics May 12, 2025
CurrencyRate

You Might also Like

FeatureMajor 3

Kuffuor’s hypocritical endorsement exposed

December 11, 2024
Major 3Politics

Kufuor’s ‘doublespeak’: Endorses Akufo-Addo as best choice in 2020, then claims Bawumia will revive Ghana’s economy

November 20, 2024
Major 1Major Politics

NDC joins Dela Edem to extend an apology to former President Kufour

November 17, 2024
GeneralMajor 1

NPP back in Kufuor era cocaine costumes again?

April 17, 2024
Show More

Copyright © 2022 The Herald Ghana. All Rights Reserved

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?