Kenyan media personality Wanja Nyarari has shared a touching story of how Ghana’s President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, personally supported her during the illness and passing of her mother, affectionately known as her “Iron Lady.” The gesture, which combined emotional, spiritual, and financial support, highlighted the former president’s empathy and deep connection with those who served him.
Wanja recounted that while serving under former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, Mahama noticed one morning that her eyes were red and immediately inquired about her wellbeing. She told him about her mother, who was dependent on an oxygen machine due to a serious illness.
“I told him about my Iron Lady, my mother, who was on an oxygen machine. Without hesitation, he said he wished to meet her. We went together to visit my Iron Lady, in the Ghetto. He climbed all the way to the rooftop where she sat in the sunshine, getting her daily dose of vitamin D. A leader. A father. A President.” she wrote on facebook.
Without hesitation, Mahama expressed his wish to meet her mother. Wanja described their visit to her mother in Nima, a neighborhood she described as challenging. The former president did not shy away from the conditions, climbing all the way to the rooftop where her mother sat in the sunshine, getting her daily dose of vitamin D. “A leader. A father. A President,” Wanja said, emphasizing the humanity and humility Mahama displayed.
During the visit, Mahama asked about her living conditions, noting that Nima resembled a slum compared to other places he had seen. After listening to Wanja’s life story, he embraced her and offered words that left an indelible mark: “From today, you are my daughter. This is your brother, Sharaf Mahama. When you come to Ghana, I will introduce you to your mummy and your other siblings. You will never be left alone. And your children will be my grandchildren.”
He even gave her a new name after learning she was born on a Friday, calling her Efia Mahama, a gesture that symbolized a familial bond and the profound impact of leadership infused with empathy.
Following her mother’s passing, Mahama’s support extended across continents. He sent Rev. Fr. Dr. Tony Amissah, a lecturer in Psychology and Dean of Students at Tangaza University, to Nairobi to personally convey condolences, prayers, and financial assistance. Wanja described his presence as a source of comfort, healing, and spiritual strength during a period weighed down by grief.
Reflecting on the former president’s support, Wanja said: “He saw my tears. He witnessed my pain as I walked the journey with my Iron Lady. He never failed to ask, ‘How is your mum doing?’ and even explored the possibility of taking her to Germany for treatment, which my “Iron Lady declined.”
She explained that the experience underscored how true leaders recognize the humanity of those around them and stand by them in moments of hardship, providing solace, support, and hope. Wanja urged others to value mentors and authority figures who act as anchors during life’s most challenging moments.
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