Mrs Theresa Kufuor née Mensah was the wife of John Kufuor and the former First Lady of Ghana – below is her biography.
Mrs Theresa Kufuor was the wife of John Kufuor, the second President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana, and the former First Lady of Ghana from 2001 to 2009.
She was a retired nurse and midwife who dedicated her life to the service of humanity and the Catholic Church.
Mrs Theresa Kufuor was also the founder of the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF), a non-governmental organisation that supports the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
In this article, we will explore the biography of Mrs Theresa Kufuor, her early life, education, career, family, achievements, and legacy.
Mrs Theresa Kufour biography
Early Life and Education
Mrs Theresa Kufuor was born on 25 October 1935 in Wenchi, Ghana and died on October 1st 2023 at 87 years of age.
She was the last born of her parents and the sister of the late J. H. Mensah, a prominent politician and economist.
Theresa started her education at the Catholic Convent, OLA, at Keta in the Volta Region of Ghana.
She later went to London, where she studied as a Registered General Nurse in the Southern Hospital Group of Nursing, Edinburgh, Scotland.
After further study at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford and Paddington General Hospital, London, she qualified as a State Certified Midwife with a Certificate in Premature Nursing.
Career and Family
Mrs Theresa Kufuor worked as a nurse and midwife in various hospitals in the United Kingdom and Ghana.
She also served as a Nursing Officer at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra.
In 1962, Theresa Mensah became Mrs Theresa Kufuor when she married John Kufuor, a young lawyer, after they met at a Republic Day Anniversary Dance in London in 1961.
They had five children: J. Addo Kufuor, Nana Ama Gyamfi, Saah Kufuor, Agyekum Kufuor, and Owusu Afriyie Kufuor.
Theresa Kufuor was a devout Roman Catholic and a supportive wife to her husband, who pursued a successful political career and became the President of Ghana in 2001.
First Lady of Ghana
As the First Lady of Ghana, Mrs Theresa Kufuor maintained a low profile in the political arena, but was actively involved in social and humanitarian causes.
She founded the Mother and Child Community Development Foundation (MCCDF) in 2002, a non-governmental organisation that supports the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, as well as the empowerment of women and children in rural communities.
She also advocated for the implementation of the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme for kindergarten children, as part of the government’s educational reforms in 2007.
She accompanied her husband on several official visits and engagements, both locally and internationally, and represented Ghana at various forums and events.
Mrs Theresa Kufuor was also the First Lady of the African Union from 2007 to 2008, when her husband served as the Chairperson of the continental body.
Achievements and Honours
Mrs Theresa Kufuor was recognised and honoured for her commitment and contribution to the welfare of humanity and the Catholic Church. In 2007, she was awarded the Papal Award Dame of St Gregory the Great by Pope Benedict XVI, for her dedication to the plight of poor children and their mothers.
She also received several other awards and citations from various institutions and organisations, such as the Ghana Registered Midwives Association, the Ghana AIDS Commission, the Ghana Journalists Association, and the Ghana Women of Excellence Awards.
She was admired and respected by many as a quiet, elegant, and graceful lady, who embodied the values of humility, compassion, and service.
Theresa Kufuor dead
Mrs Theresa Kufuor was reported to have died on 1 October 2023, at the age of 87, after a short illness.
She was mourned by her husband, children, grandchildren, relatives, friends, and the nation at large.
Theresa Kufuor left behind a legacy of love, care, and generosity, as well as a foundation that continues to impact the lives of many women and children in Ghana and beyond.
Age Difference Between Kufuor and wife
Former two-term Ghanaian President, John Agyekum Kufuor, was the husband of Mrs Theresa Kufuor.
The age difference between Kufuor and wife was 3 years as J. A Kufuor is 84 years whilst Mrs Theresa Kufuor died at 87 years.
According to Wikipedia: John Agyekum Kufuor (born 8 December 1938) is a Ghanaian politician who served as the President of Ghana from 7 January 2001 to 7 January 2009.
He also became the Chairperson of the African Union from 2007 to 2008 and his victory over John Evans Atta Mills after the end of Jerry Rawlings’ second term marked the first peaceful democratic transition of power in Ghana since independence in 1957.
Kufuor’s career has been spent on the liberal-democratic side of Ghanaian politics, in the parties descended from the United Gold Coast Convention and the United Party.
As a lawyer and businessman, he was a minister in Kofi Abrefa Busia’s Progress Party government during Ghana’s Second Republic, and a Popular Front Party opposition frontbencher during the Third Republic.
In the Fourth Republic Kufuor stood as the New Patriotic Party’s candidate at the 1996 election, and then led it to victory in 2000 and 2004.
Having served two terms in power, he retired from politics in 2008. He is popularly known as the Gentle Giant.
Mrs Theresa Kufuor was a remarkable woman who lived a life of purpose and meaning.
She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, midwife, and First Lady, who touched the hearts of many with her kindness and benevolence.
She was a role model and an inspiration to many, especially to young girls and women, who aspire to make a difference in the world.
Theresa Kufuor was a true Ghanaian patriot, who served her country and her continent with dignity and honour.
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