- Before the statesmanship and public service, there was a dance. The love story of Ghana’s former President John Agyekum Kufuor and his late wife, Theresa Aba Kufuor, began in London in the early 1960s and blossomed into a six-decade-long partnership.
- Their journey—from a chance meeting at a Republic Day celebration to a quiet wedding in Knightsbridge—remains one of Ghana’s most enduring romantic legacies.
Long before John Agyekum Kufuor became Ghana’s President, he was a young lawyer with a dream—and a heart set on finding a partner who would walk beside him in public service. That dream took shape at a Republic Day dance in London, where he met a young nurse-trainee named Theresa Mensah.
Theresa had traveled from Edinburgh to attend the event, unaware that her future husband had also been invited—and had been tipped off to “take a good look” at her. What followed was a bold request to change dance partners, a quiet introduction, and the beginning of a friendship that would soon deepen in Oxford, where both continued their studies.
Back in Ghana, John made his intentions known. He visited Theresa’s family home in Okyeso with a bottle of schnapps, a traditional gesture of respect and proposal. Her family welcomed him warmly, though her father passed away shortly after the visit. The couple pressed forward, choosing love over circumstance.
On September 8, 1962, they married at Brompton Oratory in Knightsbridge, London. Theresa’s brother, J.H. Mensah, walked her down the aisle in place of their late father. It was a quiet ceremony, but the foundation of a powerful union.
Together, John and Theresa Kufuor raised five children and welcomed 14 grandchildren. Their marriage lasted 61 years, weathering political storms, public scrutiny, and personal milestones. Theresa, who passed away on October 1, 2023, was remembered not only as a First Lady but as a devoted wife, mother, and quiet force behind one of Ghana’s most respected leaders.
Their story—rooted in tradition, courage, and quiet affection—remains a reminder that behind every great statesman is often a love story worth telling.
