Today, 22nd February, 2025 marks what would have been the 93rd birthday of Helena Ritz Fathia Nkrumah, the first First Lady of Ghana and the wife of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President.
Her name is remembered in Ghana’s history not only because of her marriage to a great leader but also for the role she played in supporting him and the country during a crucial time.
Fathia Nkrumah was born on February 22, 1932, in Egypt. She was a strong and courageous woman who left her home country to marry Kwame Nkrumah, a man she had never met before. Their union was not just a love story but a symbol of the strong bond between Africa and the Arab world. When she arrived in Ghana, she immediately embraced her new role as First Lady and supported her husband in his vision for an independent and prosperous Ghana.
During her time as First Lady, she was admired for her grace, elegance, and dedication to Ghana. She stood by Dr. Nkrumah as he worked to build the nation and promote Pan-Africanism. However, her life in Ghana was not always smooth. In 1966, when her husband was overthrown in a coup while he was on a state visit to China, she and her children were forced to leave Ghana and return to Egypt. It was a painful moment for her because she deeply loved Ghana and had made it her home.
Even after Dr. Nkrumah’s passing in 1972, Fathia Nkrumah continued to hold Ghana close to her heart. In 2007, she was finally laid to rest beside her husband at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra, a sign of the respect Ghana had for her. Her legacy as a devoted wife, mother, and supporter of Ghana’s progress remains strong.
