Though the country has a multi-party system, electoral victory at the presidential level has always alternated between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the outcome of Friday’s polls is expected to be no different and the next president would obviously be either the NPP candidate Nana Akufo Addo or the NDC candidate, President John Mahama
Nana Addo is married to Rebecca, affectionately called Becky, and President Mahama is married to Lordina. NEWS-ONE takes a glimpse into the lives of the two women.
Lordina Mahama
Though Lordina Mahama is the current First Lady of Ghana, she is actually a ‘caretaker First Lady’ as her husband, then Vice President John Mahama, was sworn in as president just last July after the demise of the then President John Evans Atta Mills.
On December 7, Ghanaians will get the opportunity to decide whether Lordina will become the substantive First Lady because her husband has won the presidential polls or whether they would want to retire her from her current status.
She has been very supportive of her husband’s quest to be president and spends sleepless nights, week after week, on campaign tours throughout the country canvassing for votes.
Indeed, she liaises with several campaign groups including the John Mahama Campaign 2012 and Lordina Mahama Fun Club, Youth For Mahama (YFM) among others to galvanize support for her husband.
Lordina also has a charity organization, Alternative Source of Income Programme (ASOIP), a non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to helping underprivileged children and women in the under developed areas of Ghana.
The primary objective of Alternative Source of Income Programme is to cater for destitute and vulnerable children and women (especially young women) so as to bridge the gap between the fortunate and unfortunate, especially in areas of education, healthcare and vocational training.
Lordina Mahama grew up in Tamale in the Northern Region and was born to Madam Abena Gyan and Mr. Kwabena Effah, both deceased. Her father hailed from Nkoranza Bodom while her mother was from Jema-Ampoma, both in the Brong Ahafo Region.
After an early primary education in Tamale, Lordina was admitted to the Bolga Girls Secondary School but after the second year, she moved to the Ghana Secondary School where she wrote her General Certificate Examination (GCE).
During her secondary school days, she took a keen interest in Home Science and that led her to continue her training at Flair Catering Training Centre in Accra.
She also did a degree programme, Bachelor (Hospitality Industry) at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
Rebecca Akufo-Addo
A potential next First Lady for Ghana, is the daughter of Third Republic’s Speaker of Parliament, Griffiths Randolph.
She is a fine and gracious woman who is exceedingly appealing in appearance as well, and has reaffirmed her persistent support and love for her husband, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
From 2008, Becky has not left the campaign trail, rallying for her darling husband, the support of her womenfolk.
Even during the political off-season, she continues to meet with several women groups who call on her for uncountable reasons.
“I believe in my husband that he can do well for the country, and would have the interest of the women at heart when he becomes president.
And I believe by God’s grace he would win the race. As a woman, I know how we feel on certain issues and I can tell you for certain that my husband cares for women.
He has a strong belief in the potential of the women of this country and would be ever ready to help us reach greater heights,” Becky noted in a previous interview.
“I believe in all humility that my husband would win the race…I appreciate the support from everyone, especially the women and I believe our efforts would be crowned with success by the grace of God,” she stated.
Her role in the 2012 campaign has been extraordinary as she crisscrosses the length and breadth of the country talking to several women interest organizations and groups.
She has also been a regular guest at almost all major markets in the country where she explains her husband’s vision and dreams for Ghana.
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