A delegation from the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) joined mourners from various walks of life to offer condolences to former President John Agyekum Kufuor and his family at the one-week observance of the passing of his wife, Theresa Kufuor, a former First Lady.
The GJA delegation, led by President Mr. Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, included national executives of the Association and senior media practitioners.
On behalf of the GJA, Mr. Dwumfour expressed heartfelt condolences to the former President and the bereaved family. He pledged the Association's unwavering support during this challenging period.
Following the formal condolences, Mr. Dwumfour commended former President Kufuor for his instrumental role in expanding media freedom in Ghana during his tenure from 2001 to 2009.
Several significant developments took place during that time, including the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law, substantial improvements in government funding for public media, and the provision of a property to house the current GJA secretariat.
The late Mrs. Theresa Kufuor is scheduled to receive a state burial on Thursday, November 16, 2023. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo announced this decision, emphasizing that Mrs. Kufuor had made significant contributions to the nation, and, as such, the nation would honor her with due respect.
Mrs. Kufuor, affectionately known as Mother Theresa during her tenure as First Lady, passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2023, at the age of 87. She was a retired nurse and midwife, born on October 25, 1935.
During her time as First Lady, she kept a low profile and stayed away from the political arena. In 2007, she advocated for policy changes within the Government's White Paper on Educational Reforms, focusing on the implementation of UNESCO's Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) program for kindergarten children.
Mrs. Kufuor was also known for establishing the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF), a non-governmental organization active in Ghana and Canada. The foundation's work primarily centered on preventing mother-to-child transmission of diseases.
Her educational background included studies at the Catholic Convent, OLA, in Keta, Volta Region, followed by nursing training in London, where she became a Registered General Nurse in the Southern Hospital Group of Nursing in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Further studies at Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford and Paddington General Hospital in London led to her qualification as a State Certified Midwife with a Certificate in Premature Nursing.
Theresa Kufuor and John Kufuor first crossed paths at a Republic Day Anniversary Dance in London in 1961, and they married in 1962. Together, they had five children and eight grandchildren.
In recognition of her commitment to helping poor children and their families, she was honored with the Papal Award Dame of St. Gregory the Great due to her strong devotion to the Catholic faith.
