Four widows may find comfort in their victory at the parliamentary polls where they realised their husbands’ ambition to become or remain MPs.
The four widows, who lost their husbands would stride gracefully to Ghana’s Parliament as results have given them the green light.
Madam Ophelia Kwansah Hayford of Mfantseman; Lydia s. Alhassan, Ayawaso West Wuogon; Linda Akweley Ocloo, Shai Osudoku and Akanvariba Lydia Lamisi of Tempane are the four widows.
- Ophelia Kwansah Hayford
Madam Hayford’s ticket to Parliament began when the late MP Ekow Kwansah Hayford died at the hands of suspected armed robbers while returning from campaign duties in October.
The wife of the slain MP was nominated to replace her late husband as the parliamentary candidate for the 2020 general elections, which she reportedly won.
Mrs Hayford got the nod following an overwhelming endorsement by the rank and file of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Following the endorsement, the widow, who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police tendered her resignation as required by the police regulations to enable her to contest the elections.
Results showed the late MP’s wife beat her competitors with 36,021 votes.
Her closest contender was NDC’s James Essuon who had 32, 438 and Ghana Union Movement candidate, Alijatu Ibrahim, was able to garner 911 votes.
- Mama Lydia
Also on the roll call is the Lydia Alhassan, who represents the Ayawaso West Wuogon.
She got her people’s nod again.
Her entry to Parliament at the time of her husband’s death was greeted with calls of ‘bloody widow’ by the minority.
Her husband, Emmanuel Boakye Agyarko demise put her in the frame to take up the mantle.
But the relentless wife fought odds and won against her closest contender and movie actor John Dumelo, in a heated contest.
Despite the constituency being a safe NPP seat, John Dumelo proved to be no pushover. But Lydia Alhassan prevailed with 39, 851 votes.
Her contender John Dumelo had 37, 478 votes.
- Linda Akwele Ocloo
Also, the widow of the late Desmond William Ocloo, Linda Akwele Ocloo beat her contender Benjamin Nargeh, who was representing the NPP in the Shai Osudoku constituency.
She beat her competition with 32, 478 votes while Mr Nargeh had 15, 900 votes.
Madam Ocloo, a teacher took over her husband’s mantle after her soulmate died in a tragic car crash in March 2016 after he won the primaries.
- Lydia Akanvariba Lamisi
The last widow to make it to Parliament, is Lydia Akanvariba Lamisi. She took on a Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, and floored him.
Provisional results put the late widow in the lead, with a total of 20, 939. She faced a stiff competition from her contender, who happened to get 16, 462 for the Tempane seat.
Madam Lamisi is the widow of the late David Adakudugu.
Mr Adakudugu, popularly known as “Achisco” in political circles, died in the early hours of Friday, September 20, 2019, in Tamale after a short illness.
In March 2020, she defeated two candidates to replace her late husband as the NDC parliamentary candidate for the Tempane constituency.