Mensah Thompson,the Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), has criticizedstatements made by Apostle Lilian Kumah widow of John Kumah the late Deputy Finance Minister.
Mrs Kumah speaking in an interview with Asaase Radio refuted claims suggesting her husband died of food poisoning, according tot her,her late husband had been battling a terminal illness for almost a year, as diagnosed by doctors in Germany.
Mensah Thomson while speaking Citi TV’s Breakfast Daily, Mensah expressed his displeasure over Mrs Kumah’s decision to discuss the details of her husband’s death rather she should focus on mourning her husband.Mensah Thompson emphasized the inappropriateness of Mrs. Kumah’s engagement in discussions about the cause of her husband’s death.
He advised her to leave the investigation to professionals who would conduct an autopsy, underscoring that making claims about the cause of death is not within the widow’s purview.Highlighting cultural norms in Ashanti tradition, Mensah Thompson pointed out that widows are expected to observe a period of mourning, refraining from making public statements about the cause of their spouse’s death.
“I will plead with the wife to shut up and mourn her husband. And, in fact, as we speak, John Kumah’s wife is on Asaase radio granting an interview claiming that her husband was not poisoned. But is that what your focus should be as a widow?“In Ashanti culture, you can’t even come out, in our traditional culture, when you lose your husband, you can’t even come out for a certain amount of time.
