WHO IS KWAME OWUSU ANSAH'S REAL MOTHER?

This is the million dollar question lingering on the minds of many Ghanaians and lovers of the late John William Kwame Owusu Ansah with no answer. The circumstances surrounding Kwame's sudden death and the different issues that are already out prior to his burial, during the burial and the aftermath seem like one of those movies Kwame featured in.

The real course of his death has still not being established well to the last detail and now the issue of who his biological mother is, has even rekindled the pain of his death. Kwame will surely not be a happy man wherever he is now looking at his real mother (whoever she is between the two) squabble over who gave birth to him with another woman.

It all started at Holy Spirit Cathedral last Saturday 14th June in morning during the memorial service when another woman aside his already known mother, Madam Victoria Cosmos Gonsalves who hails from Atsiavi in the Volta region, claimed ownership of Kwame. One Miss Koffie believed to be a native of Cape Coast created a scene outside the church hall whaling and shouting that Kwame is her son.

Peace FM's Akwasi Aboagye took up issue on his popular entertainment discussion program "Entertainment Review" Speaking to Akwasi Aboagye, madam Koffie still maintained; "Kwame Owusu Ansah is my son I gave birth to him. I have everything to prove it. Even If you want me to come to your station I will come with all my evidence. If you take someone baby and look after him it does not make the baby your baby. I have his birth certificate, weighing card and letters his father wrote to me when he (his father) was alive".

When Akwasi asked how she met Kwame's late father Miss Koffie said she was in the brigade and Kwame's father was in the military so they met at Burma Camp where they both lived. According to her she got pregnant for Mr. Smart Ofori and left to Cape Coast where she gave birth to Kwame on 28th August 1965. Four months after his delivery Mr. Smart never showed up. So her auntie and some family members followed up to inform him of his new baby. She stressed that Smart accepted and named the baby after his uncle who was born on a Saturday like Kwame.

Madam Koffie said after some time when Kwame was growing, her mother (Kwame's grandmother) advised her to allow Kwame go and stay with his dad because it's a man who raises a boy. She said even though she was against it Kwame's father stole Kwame from her. She added that she communicated and visited Kwame very often until Kwame's father was transferred to somewhere she had no idea of. She lost touch with her son and later traveled to Ivory Coast where she has been staying for all this while. "One of Kwame's sisters called me to tell me that Kwame Owusu Ansah's name was being mentioned on TV that he is dead”. She went further to explain that; “I didn't come because of any property, I only want to see my two grand daughters". Miss Koffie said.



On the other hand when Akwasi Aboagye spoke to Mr. Edward Cosmos Gonsalves Kwame's family member he denounced all that Miss Koffie said. Mr. Cosmos added that it was news to the family and they were going to meet and react duly.

On Saturday June 20 exactly a week after Kwame was buried, family members both from his mother side and father side met members of the media at his residence in Sakomono Community 19 to make an official statement about the matter and as they put it, to clear the air of any doubt created by the woman. Chaired by Mr. Francis Cosmos Gonsalves an elderly member of the family, he said categorically that the family does not know of any other mother than Madam Victoria and described the woman as an intruder.

They disassociated themselves from all that the woman is saying. Francis stated that Kwame was born to Mr. Smart Owusu Ansah who died on 6th May 1992 and Madam Vic at Alajo in Accra on 9th December 1967 and later moved to Accra Newtown (then called Lagos Town) where he was named. He said Kwame's father used to work for Ghana Airways. "Smart has was not and has never been a soldier or stayed at Burma Camp like the unknown lady is claiming" Francis emphasized.

In her reaction; Madam Vic's couldn't help than to sing a hymn while she shed tears. Victoria said she had only two sons with Kwame's father Richard the eldest and Kwame. She was lost for words and explained that it was still very difficult for her to believe all this is happening. "Kwame has never stayed with anybody else apart from us (his mother and father) from birth, through when he was growing until he became an adult. There is no other mother apart from me. I don't know where this is coming from. I know God Himself will reveal the truth". Madam Vic said with her voice shaking.

However Charles Agbo who was identified as their house help has also testified that Madam Victoria is Kwame's real mother. "I stayed with Kwame's parents for several years. I was there when his mother was pregnant, when she gave birth and even when Kwame was growing up". Charles said. The family gave out a birth certificate with the name John William Owusu Sekyere dated 9th December 1967 with registration number 79 and some childhood pictures of the late actor.

The entire family including his auntie Nana Ama Serwah, his sisters from the father side Paulina Owusu Ansah, Esther Owusu Ansah, his twin sisters, the widow Mrs. Jacqueline Addae Owusu Ansah, Francis Cosmos Gonsalves, Edward and Richard have all made it clear that they don't know of any existing mother aside Victoria. The family who initially didn't want to comment about this said they did the press conference to clear the air and put things straight.

According to them after the press conference their next action will be to drag the so-called intruder to court for defamation of character and other charges. Meanwhile Miss Koffie and her family in Cape Coast are performing some sort of an eight days customary right (Their own form of funeral) for Kwame Owusu Ansah's final journey. She has promised to bring all her evidence to Peace FM in Accra to prove that she is indeed Kwame's real mum.

By: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah