Rawlings’ beautiful ‘daughters’ fight for recognition

Even before the man who many have described as an icon in African politics, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, could be interred yesterday, two grown women had already emerged claiming to have been fathered by him.

Although many are being indifferent towards the news, since such incidences are typical of many African men and others around the world, others are surprised and questioning why they are now showing up after the demise of the man.

Abigail Mawutor, a 52-year-old woman who was the first to surface, said she couldn’t come to make such a claim while Mr Rawlings was still alive for fear of being assassinated.

Madam Abigail, who claimed her mum and the deceased met during his military training days, said she first revealed her identity to a popular TV personality, Grace Omaboe, but she was advised by the TV star to flee the country to avoid assassination.

“Maame Dokono knows about this. In 2003, I paid her a visit and told her about my story, but she told me if I don’t keep quiet about it, I may die. So she gave me money and I left the country,” media reports say.

The self-acclaimed daughter of Rawlings indicated that she made contact with Mr Rawlings external family in his village. She said she is ready for a paternity test to prove her claim.

Before Ghanaians could sleep over this news, another light-skinned 50-year-old woman also surfaced making a similar claims.

Unlike Abigail, who feared being assassinated, the 50-year-old , who gave her name as Kate Yeboah, said she couldn’t reveal her identity because she wasn’t sure of how his immediate family would take the news.

Kate said her mother met the late former President at Breman Asikuma where she resided, leading to a relationship that will later produce her.

Unlike Abigail, who discovered her identify from her mother, Kate, on the other hand, found out she is Rawlings’ daughter from her guardians whom she lived with. She claimed these guardians, her aunt and husband, called her by a name that is known by every Ghanaian as being the first daughter of Mr Rawlings, Zanator.

Kate, who was curious about the name, probed further and her guardians, as well as her mother, all confessed that she was a ‘Rawlings’. Kate claimed to have been in contact with the late president after the shocking revelation from her family. The self-acclaimed daughter of Mr Rawlings said she has since received financial support from the deceased as compensations for their lost time.

Reactions from Ghanaians

As some Ghanaians are left to figure out why these two women are now claiming to be Mr Rawlings’ children, others have speculated that they want a share of the late President’s estate.

But whether these two women will be recognised and be given their fair share of the deceased’s properties, as stated in PNDC Law 111 which was passed by Mr Rawlings himself, is another issue that will generate debates.

Meanwhile, Mr Rawlings is officially survived by a wife, Nana KonaduAgyemang Rawlings, and four children, Zanator Agyeman-Rawlings, Amina Agyeman-Rawlings, Yaa Asantewa Agyeman-Rawlings and Kimathi Rawlings.

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