The nation woke up on Monday, October 2, 2023 to the sad news of the demise of two prominent personalities, former First Lady Mrs. Theresa Kufuor and Council of State Member, Mr. Enoch Teye Mensah.
The former First Lady died in her home on Sunday, whilst the former Ningo-Prampram legislator passed away in South Africa, where he was receiving treatment.
The development has since changed the mood of the country, as flags have been directed to fly at half-mast, upon the instructions of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
A statement signed by the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, indicated that all flags in the country and at Ghana’s diplomatic missions shall fly at half-mast from yesterday to Sunday, October 8, 2023.
“This is in tribute to former First Lady Mrs. Theresa Kufuor, who passed away on October 1, 2023,” the statement said.
TRIBUTES
Tributes have been pouring in from several quarters, eulogizing the two, many of which speak of their compassion, dedication and selfless service to the nation.
President Akufo-Addo said he was saddened by the news of the death of Mrs. Theresa Kufuor, wife of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
“Her passing reminds me keenly of human mortality, that Almighty God will come for each and every one of us at the appropriate time,” Akufo-Addo remarked.
According to the President, Mama Theresa, as she was affectionately called, was a devoted companion of President Kufuor throughout their sixty-one (61) years of marriage.
He said Mrs. Theresa was an invaluable and constant source of advice, encouragement and prayers for him.
He said, “Her warmth, kindness and grace were exceptional. She bore the vicissitudes of life with great stoicism and an unshakable belief in the sovereignty of Almighty God.
My wife, Rebecca the First Lady and I will miss her a lot. We extend our deepest condolences to President Kufuor, their children, grandchildren and members of their family for the irreplaceable loss. We wish her a peaceful place of abode in the bosom of the Almighty, as she deserves, until the Last Day of the Resurrection, when we shall all meet again. Amen!!”
The Vice President, Dr. Bawumia wrote that, he and Samira “were exceedingly pained by the death of a woman we all considered a major light in our personal and national lives.”
The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, in a statement extended his “profound condolences to the family of the Honourable Enoch Teye Mensah.”
He prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul and the strength of his family left behind.
PROFILES
Mrs. Kufuor was Ghana’s First Lady from January 7, 2001 to January 6, 2009 after her husband, John Agyekum Kufuor, assumed the presidency, succeeding Jerry John Rawlings.
During her time as First Lady, she established the Mother-to-Child Community Development Foundation, which aimed to promote the healthy development of children and prevent the transmission of diseases from mothers to their offspring.
Theresa married John Kufuor when he was 23 years old, after they met at a Republic Day anniversary dance in London, in 1961. They got married in 1962. She has five children with John Kufuor.
ET MENSAH
Council of State member and former Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, E.T. Mensah, died at age 77.
Enoch Teye Mensah (born May 17, 1946) was a Minister of Youth and Sports in the Rawlings era and a Member of Parliament for 20 years, from January 1997 to January 2017.
He was married with seven children.
During the PNDC era he served as the Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
As a staunch member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), he entered Parliament on January 7, 1997 on the ticket of the NDC, representing the people of Ningo-Prampram, and held the seat until January 6, 2017.
