Angel of a woman – former President Kufuor pays emotional tribute to late wife, Theresa, at State Funeral

A united nation bade a befitting farewell to the late former First Lady, Theresa Aba Kufuor at a state funeral at the forecourt of the State House in Accra on Thursday, November 16, 2023.

It was a solemn occasion as former President John Agyekum Kufuor, paid an emotional tribute to the departed wife, describing her as an “ Angel of a woman”.

Dignitaries

Among dignitaries who attended the funeral were President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo; Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and wife Samira Bawumia; Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin; the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo; former President, John Dramani Mahama and wife Lordina Mahama; former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo; Vice President of Liberia, Jewel Cianeh Taylor; representatives of the Asantehene and Asantehemaa; Otumfuo Apagyahene, Nana Owusu Afriyie IV, as well as other traditional rulers; and the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Akosua Frema Osei Opare.
Others attendees were Ministers of State, the clergy , members of the Diplomatic Corps, and political party representatives.

Casket arrival

At about 6.30 am, the hearse carrying the remains of the 87-year-old former First Lady arrived at the funeral grounds.
Pall bearers carried the casket onto a bier, and was opened for an hour for family members and other mourners to pay their last respects.
Former President Kufuor, in a black outfit arrived in a sombre mood, at about 7.45am.

Supportive wife

In his tribute read on his behalf, Mr Kufuor traced the history of his marriage with Theresa and described how she was committed to the relationship.
“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.
“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,” Mr Kufuor said.
The former President recalled how his wife took care of their five children when he was in detention.
“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 came to the bear,” he stated.

Motherliness

In the tribute by the state read by First Lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, she noted Mrs Kufuor’s expertise in home management.
“She endeared herself to many people through her humility and motherliness.
“Her support to underprivileged children, saw her involved in many charitable activities,” she said.
There were other tributes including one by the children.

Homily

In his homily, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Most Rev. Anthony Narh Asare, said, every human being is a player on the world stage, and will play their part and die.
“We have heard about Theresa’s impressive story, “ he said and asked the living, “ What story will you leave behind?”

7 Wreaths

Wreaths were laid by the state, widower, children, family, Mother and Child Foundation, Catholic Church and traditional rulers .
The body was sent to Kumasi for private burial.
The final funeral rites will be held in Kumasi on Saturday, November 19, 2023.