The Executive Director of the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson, has strongly criticized the statements made by Apostle Lilian Kumah, the widow of the late Deputy Finance Minister, John Kumah.
Mrs Kumah in an interview with Asaase Radio refuted claims suggesting her husband died of food poisoning, asserting that he had been battling a terminal illness for almost a year, as diagnosed by doctors in Germany.
Speaking on Citi TV’s Breakfast Daily, Mensah Thompson expressed disapproval of Mrs Kumah’s decision to discuss the details of her husband’s passing.
He urged the widow to refrain from further comments and 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.
“You are supposed to be in the room and mourn. Whatever people are claiming killed or didn’t kill your husband is not up to you. That is why there are professionals who will do an autopsy and that is none of your business. People can claim whatever they want to claim, but focus on mourning your husband.”
