On Friday, Ghana held a state funeral for its late former Vice President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur who died on June 29.
The ceremony was attended by many Ghanaians including the country’s political elites.
But its not the presence of the country’s President, former presidents and other ministers of state that caught the attention of Ghanaians.
Its was rather the tribute from the wife of the late former Vice President, Matilda Amissah-Arthur.
The former second lady of Ghana ripped into critics of his late husband who he accused of showing up at his funeral to sing his praises.
Matilda Amissah-Arthur said his husband while alive was maligned, called names and humiliated by his critics, only for those persons to begin to call him a gentleman in death.
“I asked myself, is this Ghana? Are all these people in Ghana because the maligning, the lies, the treachery, the wickedness, the deliberately changing things so that you could look better than others,” she said.
The widow further said “Today I asked the same question, did people really know my husband. Did people take time to know him? The false accusations, the lies, the maligning. Did they know him?”
It is still not clear if she was referring to critics from his late husband’s party, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
But Matilda Amissah-Arthur said of his late husband that “We knew you, and we know you are a rare gem, and we treasure you, and we are very proud of you.”
Many Ghanaians took to social media to react to the tribute.
Herh Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur’s wife really poured her heart out and trashed all the hypocrites. Chale she really force. They were even tapping her to cool down. Ah Ghanaians are too fake
— Kkwesi (@kkwesi_) July 27, 2018
The tribute of the wife of Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur is a strong one. Politics in Ghana has to be change: insult the person while he is alive, sing praises about him when he dies.
— Kwaku Mensah (@KMensah_202) July 27, 2018
Matilda Amissah-Arthur’s message was clear! Politics should be about battle of ideas not insults and peddling of lies against political opponents. RIP in Peace Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur. You served Ghana well with humility and diligently.
— Senanu Nyadroh (@sosthenes1) July 27, 2018
So sad!
The tribute by the wife of H.E Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur was very touching!
She outlined how some Ghanaians fabricated lies about her husband and then these same Ghanaians came to her house to sympathize with her.Rest in Peace Sir!@KBAmissahArthur
— Richmond K. Doe (@Doe_Richmond) July 27, 2018
Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur’s wife was going out of line. Political encounter will forever be different from any other encounter in life. She should remember her husband too said hurtful things and lies about others.
God bless Ghana.
— Godfred Benjamin Annan (@annan_gb) July 27, 2018
The way people are saying good things about Paa Kwesi Amissah- Arthur ..its something else …Meanwhile when he was alive we didnt hear all these …Even when he was quiet someone will come up with dirt on him …Politics is still a dirty game
— #BrandMadeByKwadwo (@KwadwoPresley) July 27, 2018
Death of Amissah-Arthur
The former Vice President died shortly after reportedly collapsing during a workout session last month.
He was rushed to a hospital in the capital Accra only to be confirmed dead upon arrival.
Amissah-Arthur is survived by his wife, Matilda Amissah-Arthur, and two children.
How he became Vice President
Amissah-Arthur became Ghana’s Vice President in August 2012 after serving as the country’s central bank Governor from 2009 to 2012.
He was appointed as Vice President after the death of Ghana’s former President, John Evans Atta Mills in 2012.
Then Vice President, John Mahama became President and appointed Amissah-Arthur as his vice.
The two won the 2012 general elections together but lost the 2016 general elections.
Source: Africafeeds.com
