4 wives of Members of Parliament who replaced their husbands in parliament
In 2019, after the death of the late Member of Parliament for the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, Kyeremanteng Agyarko, his second wife, Lydia Seyram Alhassan was tipped to be his replacement.
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This decision by the New Patriotic Party to replace the late MP with his wife drew a lot of controversies as most people especially the NDC members were not happy with what went on during the by-elections.
Source: Facebook
After she had won the elections, she was harrassed and called names when she arrived in parliament for the first time.
The name calling and tags she got were unnecessary because she is not the first person who was made to take over from her husband.
YEN.com.gh has however compiled a list of some four women who replaced their spouses in parliament and in their race to becoming MPs.
1. Ophelia Hayford
Recently, the wife of the late Member of Parliament for the Mfantseman constituency, Ekow Kwansah Hayford was mentioned a s the perfect replacement for the MP.
The wife, Ophelia Hayford, until her resignation from the service was an Assitant Superintendent of Police (ASP).
Source: UGC
At a meeting held on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, the party reportedly selected her as replacement for her husband.
This is in line with the Section 4 of the Public Elections Regulations 2020, C.I. 127, which states that: “Where at the close of nominations, but before the election, one of the candidates dies, a further period of 10 days shall be allowed for nominations.”
2. Lydia Seyram Alhassan
She was the second wife of the seating Member of Parliament of the Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency, Kyeremanteng Agyarko, who passed away after the election,
Eventhough the man had a senior wife, Maa Lydia as she is affectionately called was selected to represent the party in the by-elections.
Source: Facebook
Fortunately for her, she won the elections and replaced her husband in parliament to protect the seat for the NPP.
3. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo
Mrs. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo stood on the ticket of the NDC after her husband, Mr William Ocloo, who was then the aspirant, died in a road accident in May 2016.
Source: UGC
He was said to have died on the spot in the crash which occurred at Juaso in the Asante Akyem South District of the Ashanti Region.
Mr Ocloo was said to have had a head-on crash with another vehicle, whose driver also died.
4. Cecilia Gyan Amoah
She represented the Asutifi South Constituency from 2000 to 2005, and former diplomat to both Cuba and Barbados. She has since stood again for parliament in the Asutifi South constituency, where her deceased husband had previously contested.
She was the member of parliament for the Asutifi South Constituency from January 2001 to January 2005.
This was following the death of her husband in 2000, who had previously stood for the party in that district.
She left the ticket after a loss in the primary for the party in late 2004 to Thomas Broni, deputy Minister for the Interior. She was the first female MP of the NPP to be voted off a ticket.
Meanwhile, the mother of the murdered NPP MP for the Mfantseman Constituency in the Central Region, Quansah Hayford, has mourned his death in deep agony.
Madam Meba Aba Attah, 80 years, has said though she is alive, she feels the very life in her has been snuffed away.
She has mourned the cruel murder of her only son on whom she depended for her everything than the air she breathes.
Now that he is no more, Madam Aba Attah has wondered how she is going to face the life ahead.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
