I wasn’t surprised my husband was overthrown - Limann’s Wife

The wife of the late Dr. Hilla Limann, Fulera Limann, has stated that the overthrow of her husband did not come as a shock to her as it was something they both had expected.

Fulera Limann stated that the president of the 3rd Republic was very much aware of the rampant coup d’états which engulfed the country, right from independence, but was ready for the unforeseen.

Dr Limann assumed office as president on September 24, 1979 having had power transferred to him by Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings then chairman of a junta, Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). He was, however, overthrown by the same person on December 31, 1981, after being in office for 27 months.

According to the former first lady, Dr Limann was concerned about the wellbeing of Ghanaians hence he decided to take the plunge.

“His ideology was Ghana and I’ve always said it because I was surprised when he told me that he was going to do politics. Where he was, we were okay, and I’ve said politics in Ghana with these coup coup coup so what was the point.”

She maintained that her husband was a hardworking man who was ready to sacrifice for the nation and fix issues because he was privy to the woes of the country.

Mrs Fulera Limann recalled when Dr Hilla Limann made a visit to London where he met with then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.



She stated that in just about a span of five minutes of interaction, Dr Hilla Limann made a good impression on Margaret Thatcher who she said, pointed out that he was the first head of state to voice the exact issues facing the country.

Recounting briefly how the meeting went she said, “…he once told me that when he made an official visit to London, he met the late Mrs Margaret Thatcher. We just sat with her five minutes and Mrs Margaret Thatcher told her ministers that they should do everything to help him because this is her first time of meeting a Minister of state who knows his country’s problems”.