Rebecca Naa Dedei Aryeetey, famously known as Dedei Ashikishan, was far more than a successful entrepreneur—she was a trailblazer in politics and a fierce advocate for women’s rights in Ghana.
Today, her legacy is immortalized on the 50 pesewas coin, but her story remains one of the most powerful and least told in Ghana’s history.
Born in 1923, Dedei Ashikishan made her mark early in life. After completing her basic education, she settled in James Town, Accra, where she rapidly rose to prominence in the flour business—earning her the nickname “Flour Queen.”
By the age of 30, she had not only built a flourishing enterprise but also became the leader of the Market Women’s Association, wielding significant influence in both economic and political spaces.
Her business success enabled her to become a major financier of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the movement that brought Kwame Nkrumah to political power.
She played a pivotal role in his early political career, using her wealth and platform to campaign and mobilize support, which ultimately helped Nkrumah win his first parliamentary seat and rise to the position of Prime Minister.
However, her political involvement may have also led to her untimely and suspicious death. In 1961, while attending a CPP event in Ho, she suddenly fell ill after drinking tea and passed away shortly afterward at just 38 years old.
Many believe her close ties to Nkrumah made her a threat to political opponents, and some suspect she was deliberately poisoned.
Despite her unmarried status and not having children, Dedei Ashikishan dedicated her life to the fight for Ghana’s independence and the empowerment of women.
Her impact is undeniable, even if her contributions have often been overshadowed by those of her male counterparts.
In 2007, when Ghana introduced a new currency design, the nation finally recognized her legacy by placing her image on the 50 pesewas coin—a small but meaningful tribute to a woman whose courage and commitment helped shape the nation’s history.
Source: NewsandVibes.com
