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Permit me to begin this article from the end, If anything is ever clear, it is that Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, is nothing without Jerry John Rawlings.
The political history of this country, especially the Fourth Republican dispensation, will not be complete without the mention of the former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.
Perhaps, it is appropriate to recap how this strong woman made her way into the nation’s psyche.
Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlingsis an enigma, who made some impact in the life of Ghanaians, especially women, through opportunities offered by her husband and mother luck that always smiled at both of themat the right moment in the history of leadership in our great nation.
She was at some point referred to as the iron lady, she was everywhere and involved in everything. She made the office of the first lady, a functional one that interfered or was involved in the day to day running of the country. The focal point of her almost 19 years of her stewardship was women empowerment.
Her passion to empower women, led to the formation of the 31st December Womens Movement. It was a movement that lifted a lot of our women not only out of poverty, but defined their proper role in the governance of this country.
She dedicated her tenure as the first lady, to helping women in this country to realize their full potential. Her crowning moment was the Beijing Conference, which gave a seal of approval to her dream and work as emancipator of our women.
She became the voice of women in this country and beyond. Many described her as the iron lady, because she walked where even men feared to tread.
According to Chinua Achebe, in Things Fall Apart, those whose palm kennel were cracked for them by benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble.
Nana Konadu, was intoxicated by privilege, and saw herself taller, more intelligent and deserving than all those who worked for her and her husband. Unknown to her, some people shine, not because they are bright, but because they walk close to the sun.
Her rise to fame to become a household name was because she was the wife of Jerry John Rawlings, unfortunately this rare privilegedgot into her head, and at some point nursed the ambition of becoming the president of the country, by leading the National Democratic Congress as its flagbearer.
When she realized that dream was next to impossibleat first, she contested to become one of the Vice-Chairpersons of the party.
Just when her star had begun to dazzle in the air, then it all happened that, all that she had built and hoped for came crashing in one miserable heap. Lawan, like the Greek gods of the ancient, has, after all, feet of clay and has fallen into infamy.
She prided herself as being the brightest crayon in the box, when Nana Konadu, decided against wisdom to challenge Prof. John Evans Atta Mills for the flagbearership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), it became clear that having been married to Jerry John Ralwings and been around power for almost twenty years, gave her a false sense of ownership.
Power, is an aphrodisiac that very few can resist its aroma let alone the allure, Nana Konadu, ignored the voice of reason and went into a contest she knew very well, she doesn’t stand a chance.
With that decision, came crashing a burgeoning political career that had lasted over two decades. Politicseverywhere, is a game that takes no prisoners; you are either with us or against us, and when she decided to go against the tide, she suffered for it, taken down with her the once revered Jerry John Rawlings.
Timing is everything in life, an astute politician knows when to call it quit, you always do that when the applause is high. Nana Konadu, failed to accept the fact that, her time had long passed and the mantle passed onto different people. She had the opportunity to serve as a mother, but got carried away with unbridled ambition.
The disappointed she suffered at Sunyani, during the national delegate conference to elect the flagbearer, left her shattered and instead of taking the defeat in her stride, she decided to form a political party. In the stiff political competition we have in this country, it has always been a two horse race between the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress.
He run in politics came to an abrupt end after the death of her husband, because as obvious as it is, she was and has always walked in his shadow. If president Rawlings was still alive, she would still be strutting the stage like a peacock and the pearl of the pack.
But as they say, everything that has a beginning has an end, the once strong, vibrant woman, has suddenly gone into obscurity, she has become part of our history, no one even remembers her, no one calls on her like they use to. This is a lesson to all of us, we are nothing without the love and support of people.
The NPP that she found comfort in, has betrayed her, whiles alive. I pray that members of the NDC, will find it in their heart to forgive her and welcome her back into their fold, because that is home to her.
Finally, I am certain that in the fullness of time, Nana Konadu, will have one or two regrets which bother on her arrogance, superior demeanourand false belief that, President Rawlings was going to live forever.
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