President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has extended his deepest condolences to former President John Agyekum Kufuor and his children as well as grand-children over the passing of Theresa Kufuor nee Mensah.
Mrs Kufuor passed away on Sunday, October 1 after a long illness.
In his tribute on Monday, October 2, President Akufo-Addo expressed sadness about the news.
“Her passing reminds me keenly of human mortality, that is that Almighty God will come for each and every one of us at the appropriate time,” he wrote.
President Akufo-Addo noted he knows her family very well, particularly her brother, the late JH Mensah, as well as nephew Ambassador DK Osei.
He expressed admiration for her “invaluable” and “constant” source of advice, encouragement and prayers for former President Kufuor, who led the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to government in 2001.
“She was a composed and articulate First Lady, polyglot, fluent in several languages including Ewe, who brought great dignity to the position.
“I knew several members of her family, especially her celebrated brother, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know her too.
“Her warmth, kindness and grace were exceptional. She bore the vicissitudes of life with great stoicism and an unshakeable belief in the sovereignty of Almighty God.”
On behalf of his wife, Rebecca, and the people of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo wished her a “peaceful place of abode in the bosom of the Almighty, as she deserves, until the Last Day of the Resurrection when we shall all meet again.”
Mrs Kufuor, nee Mensah, passed away on Sunday, October 1, 2023.
She served as the First Lady of Ghana from January 7, 2001 to January 6, 2009.
She assumed the role after her husband, John Agyekum Kufuor, succeeded Jerry John Rawlings as the President of the Republic of Ghana.
While serving as First Lady, Madam Theresa set up the Mother to Child Community Development Foundation to help in the proper development of children and prevent mother-to-child transmission of diseases.
She was 88.
Mrs Theresa Kufuor married John Kufuor in 1962 and have been together for 61 years.
Mrs. Kufuor lived most of her working life in the United Kingdom after studying at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford and Paddington General Hospital, London, and qualifying as a State Certified Midwife with a Certificate in Premature Nursing.
Before marrying John Kufuor, she was known as Theresa Mensah and was the last born to her parents. Her elder brother was the late NPP stalwart, J.H. Mensah.
Mrs Kufuor started her education at the Catholic Convent in Keta, in the Volta Region. After that, she went to London and became a Registered Nurse after getting her education from Southern Hospital Group of Nursing in Edinburgh, Scotland.
After she graduated from the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, and Paddington General Hospital, London, she became a State Certified Midwife with a Certificate in Premature Nursing.
Theresa married John Kufuor when he was 23 years old after they met at a Republic Day Anniversary Dance in London in 1961. They got married in 1962. Theresa has five children with John Kufuor
She was First Lady of Ghana for eight years from January 7, 2001 and January 6, 2009.