Government, the Aliu Mahama and Imoro Egala families have held the final funeral rites at the forecourt of the State House in honour of the wife of former Vice President, Alhaji Hajia Ramatu Aliu Mahama.
Hajia Ramatu passed to glory on April 7 this year at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital at age 70.
Some cultural rituals were performed in line with the Dagbon tradition to honour the illustrious daughter, wife and a mother of the land, amidst drumming and dancing; and firing of the musketry.
Kinsmen from Tumu, the ancestral home of the late Hajia Ramatu also displayed their cultural prowess to bid farewell to their daughter.
The event was graced by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia; Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Head of the UN Office for West Africa; government officials, members of the Islamic community and representatives of various political parties among others.
Government in a tribute eulogised the former Second Lady for the indelible memory she has left in the hearts and minds of Ghanaians being humble and hospitable to all manner of persons in life.
“The humility and motherliness of Hajia Ramatu cannot be overemphasised. Anyone who encountered her, left with an indelible memory of her humble and hospitable nature”, government stated.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in the tribute read on his behalf by Deputy Minister for Information, Hajia Fatimatu Abubakar, lauded Hajia Ramatu for the numerous social interventions she initiated to empower the less endowed and underprivileged in society.
Through the RAHMA Foundation, Mrs. Mahama undertook projects in the health sector, education and livelihood programmes to support the underserved communities and individuals as well as orphanages in the country.
President Akufo-Addo also commended the former Second Lady for her advocacy and campaign for the participation of women in decision-making process of the country.
Asantehene’s tribute
Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in a tribute read on his behalf described the late Hajia Ramatu as a compassionate lady, matriarch of her family, a pillar of hope and support for all and an irreplaceable gem who will surely be missed.
“It is not for nothing that Hajia Ramatu earned the coveted title ‘Mama Ramatu’. As a trained teacher and educationist for close to three decades, she was everybody’s Mama, a mother to all and everyone who came her way when need be; she was a disciplinarian”, Otumfuo eulogised.
In view of this, the King of the Ashanti Kingdom said, “We are confident that her four children – Salma, Farouk, Fayad and Halim Aliu Mahama, all of whom are flourishing in their various fields of endeavour, will continue to keep the family’s flame burning brightly and continue to exhibit commendable qualities like kindness, generosity, compassion for others and devotion to duty that she so eminently exemplified in life.”
Tribute by Ya Naa
For his part, Ya Na Abukari II, King of Dagbon said Hajia Ramatu was a shining example to many women in Dagbon and was a pillar of the Revered Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the first Dagomba to hold the highest office of Vice President of Ghana.
“Hajia Ramatu supported our own brother – Vice President Aliu Mahama, at the time, the highest office holder and the Dagomba community revered him; she was a great support and her home was open to all of us and Hajia Ramatu made sure she accommodated all of us”, he recalled.
The Ya Naa further thanked the government and all mourners who supported the funeral and prayed that the Holy Quran that was recited by the Chief Imam and all the exultations in memory of Hajia Ramatu would give her a resting place in heaven.
“For us, Farouk Aliu Mahama and all the children left, in our Dagbon tradition would typically say that we have lost a brother, they have several fathers and Insha Allah, we would do our very best to ensure that they have the continued fatherly and motherly love that they would need to show the example of this excellent family”, Ya Naa Abukari assured.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Emir of Kano State, Alhaji Kabiru Tijani Hashim and Alhaji Maikeke, both from Nigeria were among the high profile dignitaries that graced the funeral.
