By Awura Ama Obeng
A Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings yesterday paid glowing tribute to her husband, Flt. Lt. (Rtd) Rawlings, as the best husband in the world, describing him as her “perfect better half”.
In an interview with a Tema-based radio station, ADOM(106.3) FM, she revealed the flip-side of the Former President that many Ghanaians do not know; that he loves taking part in house hold chores.
At 63, Rawlings goes into history as one of the longest serving leaders in Africa but ironically, he still has no official place to lay his head with his family after fire swept through the only place he has called home on February 14 this year.
Government’s failure to provide housing has forced his wife to move to her mother’s house at Nyaniba, Osu in Accra while Rawlings lives at his Sogakope residence. Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has stood by her husband through very trying times, especially when people they thought were friends turned their backs on him.
After Rawlings’ abortive May 15, 1979 mutiny when he was arrested, many of the Rawlingses’ friends turned their back on them and would not help Mrs. Rawlings to get her husband released from detention though she was carrying a pregnancy. Thus, Mrs. Rawlings has become an authority on her husband who is undoubtedly the most popular African the past three decades. Nana Konadu told ADOM FM that her husband will stop at nothing to prevent injustice, poverty and abuse of the ordinary person, an indication that his recent comments about the challenges in the NDC is as a result of how detestable he views those issues.
Mrs. Rawlings says contrary to the speculation created by some distracters, her husband is a very sociable and caring person. She talked of how he even used to wash their children’s clothes and help with other house hold chores. From the qualities and attributes Mrs. Rawlings enumerates about her husband, it is safe to say that many a woman will wish to have him for a husband. “If a woman delivers and does not have a good husband to support her, it puts a lot of stress on her. My husband is the best” Mrs. Rawlings said. Sources close to the Ridge residence say there will be no pump and pageantry associated with the celebration of his birthday this year as Mr. Rawlings is saddened by the plight of flood victims.
Since assuming the reins of power at a very young age, Rawlings has never failed to exhibit his passion for the ordinary person. From the gutters of Nima through cocoa farms to the offices of the civil service, he has been working with the ordinary people to improve their lot.
At 63, he has dreams not yet realized. One of his dreams is to see Ghana listed among the nations of emerging economies where people can afford decent lives. He is currently said to be out of town still doing what he does best; philanthropy. Like every mortal, Rawlings has his weaknesses; one, obviously is how he quickly and easily trusts people only to realize years later that they are turn-coats. His strength is his leadership abilities, especially his raw courage. He dared to take over the leadership of the nation at a critical time in the late 70s and 80’s when the whole world had virtually deserted Ghana.
He led his colleagues to stabilize the nation for over a decade until 1992 when he managed and supervised the transition to democracy. The obviously love-stricken Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings who has been with her sweetheart virtually all her life lightened up when she disclosed that her husband is just her perfect ‘better half’
The once upon a time young and slim-looking Rawlings has changed with age, putting on weight and spotting grey hair. But don’t be fooled, Rawlings’ passion is as strong as ever. He still spends time with the poor in Sogakope in the Volta Region.
Rawlings was born on the 22nd of June and was enlisted in the army in 1967 as a cadet officer. After his promotion in 1978 as a Flight-Lieutenant, he led a coup that overthrew a military government after which formed the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, AFRC. Later, he handed over power to Dr. Hilla Limann who won the Presidential elections that year on the ticket of the People’s National Party,PNP. On December 31, 1981, he overthrew the PNP government and formed the Provisional National Defence Council, PNDC, which eleven years later ushered Ghana into constitutional rule. He founded the National Democratic Congress, NDC, stood on its ticket to win the Presidential elections, obtaining almost 65% of the total votes cast. He was re-elected President of Ghana in 1996 and ruled until 2000 when he handed over to the New Patriotic Party led by John Agyekum Kufour.
