Wife of late Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur is not taking things traditionally. Matilda Amissah-Arthur is angry and wants the world to know it.
On the occasion of the final funeral rites of her late husband, she looks around the large number of mourners and appears to have found among them people who should not now be saying good things about her late husband after painting him black while he lived, and as it were, ‘gave it to them.’
Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur, in the middle of her tribute to the fallen Vice President during a state funeral held at the Accra International Conference Centre, abandoned the sweet-coated script traditional protocol expects mourners in her situation to read.
And here is how it unfolded.
“Did you know my Husband?” she quipped, pouring scorn on the outpouring of condolences that had preceded her own address, for the “lies” and “malignment” dished out on her late husband.
She pointed out that she was surprised at the warm wishes of affection that she and the bereaved family had received since the passing of Mr. Amissah-Arthur.
“Over the last few weeks I’ve been amazed at the number of people who have come to show us love, and I ask myself ‘is this Ghana, Are all this people in Ghana?’”
“The Maligning, the lies, the treachery, the wickedness, the deliberately changing things to look so that we could look better than others and the mischievousness… is this Ghana?” she quipped.
What is traditional in Ghana is that no ill-communication is held about the dead, particularly in public.
Below is a copy of scripted Tribute by Matilda Amissah-Arthur
TO MY SOULMATE, MY BEST FRIEND, MY ROOMMATE AND MY PRAYER PARTNER
a tribute by Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur
Forty years and five months we lived together. A thousand tears won’t bring you back, know because I have cried. In the good times we we rejoiced and thanked the Lord. So, l have accepted this great loss and I thank God for your life and what he used you to do.
God has been good to us as a family and you always testified of God’s goodness in our lives. Every morning during our prayer time, you never ceased to thank God for His grace, mercy and favour.
You loved the Lord deeply and, whatever you did, you did it as unto the Lord. You spent time studying the Bible over and over. In recent years, you took to reading the not so popular books of the Bible and you enjoyed discussing them. During our Wednesday morning bible studies, you would come up with very deep insights to the passages we read.
Our relationship got better with age. So much so that, if the children asked one of us for advice without the other being there, often times our answers would be very similar. We shared a closeness that was a source of amusement to our friends and family. People wondered why we were always chit chatting when we went out to functions and even at church. Our children laughed at us often, remarking that, even at public functions, our heads were often together.
I will miss your great sense of humour -you could tease like nobody’s business. With most people who knew you well, there is some story or some inside joke to share.
You were the life and soul of my book launch on Wednesday June, 27, 2018. As soon as you arrived at the venue, you began mingling and chatting with our guests. During the programme, you kept teasing me about how I had waited till my old age before writing a book.
At the reception after the launch you took photographs with anyone who asked, even though it is well known that you did not like taking photographs. When I asked that we go home, you were busily engaged in some banter with old friends and you asked me to go ahead, saying that you would follow shortly. You were one of the last to leave.
Many times you said that you did not go into politics, but that politics found you. As a technocrat, you took your work seriously and discharged your duties as best as you could. We discussed how we could get people to think about Ghana first, stop being partisan and also give back to society. Above all you proved to all that one could be a Christian and rise to the highest position without soiling one’s hands. I will always remember how, at Apostle Jude Hama’s book launch in May, you encouraged Christians to get into politics to help shape our country.
You were so many things to so many people, constantly giving selflessly to others. lf we needed a reminder of this, we have it in the outpouring of love shown us since June, 29, 2018.
People from all walks of life have come to visit and sympathise with us.
The way you were called by the Lord is befitting of how you conducted yourself in life quietly, privately, and without any fuss. You left your mark a simple, honest, principled, hardworking man of integrity. I am very proud of you. I know that in life you touched so many people, so I pray that your memory will also impact and empower generations.
As my heart bleeds, I am comforted by knowing that you finished your work on this earth and the Lord called you home to rest in glory. So, with Andrae Crouch, I say:
"I have had many tears and sorrows,
I’ve had questions for tomorrow,
There's been times I didn’t know right from wrong.
But in every situation, God gave me blessed consolation,
That my trials come only to make me strong.
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word."
You are so wonderful to think of, and so ha to be without.
My dearest, we will surely meet again on Lord's side.
Source: Graphic.com.gh
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...With the attitude of this 2nd lady, no wonder people said Paa Kwesi was with a gay.
hmmm,in as much as Matilda is right,the timing was wrong.lets forgive her.she really doesn't understand politricks
N'anim s3 edwiee ( louse). no emotional intelligence. I bore waa with this arr-0gant woman.
ABSOLUTE D1SGRACE OF A WOMAN. YOU CAN MOURN YOUR LOSS BUT THAT DOES NOT GIVE ARR--0GANT MATILDA AMISSAH ARTHUR THE AUDACITY TO INSULT PEOPLE WHO HAD COME TO MOURN WITH HER. NO CLASS. HAS SHE HEARD THE SAYING "SAY NOTHING BUT GOOD OF THE DEAD". HER LATE HUSBAND WAS IN A D1RTY GAME CALLED POLITICS FOR WHICH HE HIMSELF BENEFITED AND SUPPORTED THE L1ES THAT HE AND HIS FELLOW POLITICIANS ALWAYS CHURNED OUT TO WIN CHEAP VOTES? HAVING SUCH A PERSON AS A DAUGHTER OR SISTER IN LAW MUST BE AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE. I HOPE SHE REFUSES THE NSAA ( MONEY) THAT THE SO CALLED HYPOCRITES GIVE. AFTER ALL THE 1N-SULTS REGARDING THE CHALK SCANDAL, ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT SHE HAS LEARNT FROM HER MISTAKES. I AM TOTALLY APPALLED BY THIS WOMAN. NO CLASS SUB STANDARD ARR--0GANT PERSON. EI! PASS KWESI, KAFRA FOR YOUR SUFFERING UNDER THIS WOMAN.
Dear Ghanaians ; How dare this arrogant semi educated illiterate thing call mrs Amissah-arthur call Ghanaians in front of our elders including our President Nana Addo-Hypocrates ; is this lady from a Ghanaian home and who reared this lady to be so arrogant and does she ot kow that it was ghanaians who through their taxes elevated her and her husband Amissah-Arthur to such status in ghana ; who told his husband Amissah-arthur to go go join the NDC party who used him and spat him out ; was she and her husband Amissah-Arthur not a party to the evil greddiness and selfishness of the Ndc party ; why did she and her husband keep quiet over the appalling stilling and murder in the NDC party; did she think her husband was immune from the diabolical band of krooked evil people i the NDC party ; she ask the whether people knew husband ; the answer is no because her husband Amissah-Arthur was a chameleon and master pretender who had was suspicious of his own shadow ; he had no confidence and was weak; he was no politician buut wanted to enjoy the life of politician who stole to exist;today your husband paid the price like Atta Mills; are you better than the wife of Atta Mills ; you pushed your husband ito this toic politics and have lost your husband ad today callig ghanaians hypocrates ;mind your you arrogant language because husand ded of extreme stress heart attack because of politics.
Anti Matilda you have disappointed your husband,this is not needed.I ghanaian culture we even mourn our enemies when they die,you have trashed all the hard work of your dear husband.no legacy left.
Even the poor woman who was beaten for demanding her own meagre savings from a bank, over several days, did not attack Ghanaians. Did you know this is Ghana when you were enjoying your 2nd lady status? Did you attack Ghanaians when your husband recently received his ESB, though End of Service Allowance is not available to civil servants in Ghana? ***barred word*** or Come again in a better way!
The woman is distressed and sad. Let's understand her, but she fun of speaking too emotionally without proper reflection. If you recollect the issue about school chalk. As for the late Vice President, I don't know but we take her words for the wonder she said about Amissah Arthur. Truth be told, no one in politics is above criticism and it's unnecessary friends. But to do public one must only accept praises but also prepare for the opposite. May his Soul Rest in Peace.
This widow is not disciplined. Who told her to speak to the nation in that attitude? Your husband would be angry in his grave at this time. Who were those Ghanaians you were referring to? Did you know the whole world was watching and you’ve created problem for yourself. Even Mrs Rawlings won’t do such a thing! Shame on you for insulting we Ghanaian.
Do you remember when your husband said we shouldn't vote for a short man? come again Matilda! what an arrogant widow!