When Samira Steps Out

She may be more in the limelight these days as the wife of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia the running mate of NPP's presidential candidate but whenever Samira has stepped out in the past she is certain to be noticed.

The elegant and suave Mrs Samira Bawumia, one time a Miss Universe beauty pageant contestant has kept those calculated steps that most women of fashion wish they had.

Last week Friday, when Samira stepped out, beside her husband, to pay her last respects to the former Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, her sombre walk must have momentarily halted the sobbing of many mourners present.

Samira, 29, has been described by the press as a “Zongo girl” who cut her teeth in Islamic education at the Answarudeen Islamic School right in the National Chief Imam's sacred palace at Fadama in Accra, before she proceeded to the Akosombo International School and then Mfantsiman Secondary School.

Samira later read a BA Social Science in Law and Sociology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

While in school, she was said to have been an open-minded and exceptionally social person who earned herself a reputation as a good sports and entertainment girl.

Samira has three children, a girl and two boys, with Dr Bawumia. She speaks a number of local languages including Ewe, Ga, Twi and Fante.

At last Fiday's state funeral itself, Daily Graphic reported an impressive attendance of political, judicial, legislative and social leaders, including President J.A. Kufuor and his wife, Theresa; Vice-President Aliu Mahama; the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes; former President J.J. Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu, and the flag bearers of the various political parties.

Also present were Members of Parliament (MPs), members of the Diplomatic Corps, the clergy, executives of the various political parties, chiefs and queens from across the country and a cross-section of the people.

At 6 a.m the casket bearing Mr Adjetey's body arrived at the Speaker's Block after brief religious rites were performed at the lobby of the block by Reverend Antonio Nelson of the La St Paul's Anglican Church, where the late former Speaker worshipped.

Before the arrival of President Kufuor, MPs, members of the Diplomatic Corps, family members and a cross-section of the people had filed past the body, amid singing by the Tema Youth Choir and the throbbing of traditional drums.

When he arrived, President Kufuor led a retinue of Ministers of State to file past the body, to give the former Speaker their last respects.

The flag bearer of the NPP, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in one of the many tributes that were read, recalled his association with Mr Adjetey and described him as a fearless lawyer and politician who was meticulous in all the fields in which he found himself.

Other tributes were read by Mr Freddie Blay, on behalf of Parliament, Mr Adjetey's widow, children, grandchildren, the judiciary, the GBA, the NPP, the St Paul's Anglican Church, the Rotary Club, the Accra Academy Old Boys Association, among others.

In a sermon, Right Reverend J.K. Dadson, a former Anglican Bishop of the Sunyani/Tamale Diocese, asked Ghanaians to strive to leave legacies that would enable present and future generations to remember them for the development of the country.

“Let us learn from the selfless life lead by Mr Adjetey and live in harmony with our opponents in order to forge a united front for the country's development,” he advised.

The former Speaker was buried at the churchyard of the St Paul's Anglican Church, La, Accra.