President Akufo-Addo commiserates with former President John Agyekum Kufuor at the one week observance of the late Theresa Kufuor at Peduase
The one-week observance of Mrs. Theresa Kufuor’s death, held yesterday at Peduase in the Eastern Region, drew key figures from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), including President Nana Akufo-Addo and his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira Bawumia, were among the dignitaries that attended the one-week commemoration of the former First Lady.
The President was also accompanied by some high ranking government officials, including Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; Roads and Highways Minister, Kwasi Amoako-Atta; and Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.
The solemn ceremony was also attended by NPP National Chairman Stephen Ntim and his General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong; Sammi Awuku, Director General of the National Lottery Authority of Ghana; ex-Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan; former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye; musician Akosua Agyapong, family and friends.
On Sunday, October 1, the late Theresa Kufuor, wife of Ghana’s second President of the Fourth Republic, John Agyekum Kufuor, died peacefully at her residence at Peduase, surrounded by her family.
Theresa Kufuor, born on October 25, 1935, was not only Ghana’s First Lady for eight years between 2001 and 2009, but also a highly respected former midwife.
Her educational journey took her from the Catholic Convent, OLA, in Keta, Volta Region, Ghana, to London, where she earned her qualifications as a Registered General Nurse.
She continued her education at prestigious institutions such as Oxford’s Radcliffe Infirmary and London’s Paddington General Hospital, eventually becoming a State Certified Midwife with a Certificate in Premature Nursing.
Her dedication to public service was not limited to her role as First Lady.
In the Government’s white paper on Educational Reforms in 2007, she called for significant policy changes, emphasising on the implementation of UNESCO’s Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme for kindergarten children.
Moreover, she founded the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF), a non-governmental organisation operating in Ghana and Canada, dedicated to preventing mother-to-child transmission of diseases.
Theresa Kufuor, a devout Roman Catholic, married John Kufuor in 1962 at the age of 23. Together, they raised five children and enjoyed the blessings of eight grandchildren.
In her role as First Lady and beyond, Theresa Kufuor maintained a low profile in the political arena but left an indelible mark through her advocacy, compassion, and dedication to improving the lives of others.
The dignitaries and attendees at her one-week observance rites stand as a testament to the impact she made on the nation and its people.
On November 16, 2023, the former First Lady will be laid in state at the forecourt of the State House, while the funeral rites will take place in Kumasi on November 18 after which she will be laid to rest on November 19, 2023 in Kumasi.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu & Daniel Bampoe