General News of Monday, 17 December 2012

Source: The Spectator

Up-Close With Lordina Dramani Mahama: First Lady Of The Republic Of Ghana

Even from afar, there remains one conspicuous attribute that any observer would easily make out about the country’s First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Dramani Mahama.

This attribute is neither her love for her husband, President John Dramani Mahama, nor her resolve to stand by him through thick and thin. Far from this!

Rather it is her love and strident passion for the welfare of children, and everything that goes into making and keeping children happy. That, according to one of her friends who pleads anonymity, “is one essential thing that makes her different.

“In fact, she is the real epitome of a mother and for that, I always pray that God Almighty should continue to bless her so that she will also continue to support children in the country,” she told The Spectator on Thursday.

The Spectator now appreciates how come about two years ago, Mrs. Mahama adopted a baby girl from the Osu Children’s Home, in addition to the four boys she has with the President.

But that is not at all the story about the First Lady.

Forty nine year old Mrs. Mahama straddles many worlds with her humble upbringing and calm disposition.

Born on March 6, 1963, to Mr. and Mrs. Effah of blessed memory, Lordina-as she is popularly called, hails from Jema-Ampoma in the Nkoranza district of the Brong Ahafo Region.

The last of three children, she had her early education in Tamale at the Tishigu Anglican primary school. She then continued to the Ghana Secondary School in Tamale, where she completed her GCE education.

As a matter of fact, it was at Ghana Secondary School that Lordina met her husband, John Dramani Mahama, for the first time.

Her profound passion for entrepreneurship and the culinary business led her to study for a certificate in Catering at the Flair Catering Services and a Bachelors Degree in Hospitality Management at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

Lordina’s capacity to seamlessly combine many roles at the same time played a critical part as she successfully negotiated her family and political duties as the wife of a sitting President.

This multitasking skills has also enabled her to study for an MA in Governance and Leadership.

With such strong entrepreneurial sills, the First Lady continues to actively serve as the National President of an on-governmental organization, Alternative Source of Income Programme (ASIOP), dedicated to orphans and the vulnerable.

She is the first to admit that wearing the hats of First Lady, president of an NGO, ad being a mother for all Ghanaians could be daunting. However, she manages to keep strict discipline that enables her to fulfill all the roles as best as she can.

She speaks English, Hausa, Dagbani and Twi fluently, making her an effective and articulate communicator to a wide range of audiences. She is a Christian and a staunch member of the Assemblies of God church at Ringway Estates.

In her leisure period, Lordina takes to reading, travelling or cooking.

If Lordina’s prime vision of providing opportunities for the needy is so strong, it is because she has an unwavering belief in the intrinsic goodness of humanity. She, therefore, advises particularly the youth to be upright and take their studies seriously in order to take over in future.