Nkrumah, Fathia (c. 1931–)

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Nkrumah, Fathia (c. 1931–)

Egyptian-born first lady of Ghana. Name variations: Helen Ritz Fattiah; Fathia Halim Ritzk; Madam Fathia Nkrumah. Born in Zeitoun, Egypt, around 1931; father was a clerk in the Egyptian telephone company; educated primarily by Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles; also studied Arabic at University of Cairo; m. Kwame Nkrumah (prime minister and then life-president of Ghana), in Dec 1957 (died 1972); children: sons Gamal (b. 1959) and Sékou(b. 1963); daughter Samia Nkrumah (b. 1960).

Married husband in a private civil ceremony at Christianborg Castle in Accra (the wedding may have been the 1st time they met); spoke no English, and her English speaking groom spoke no Arabic; shy by nature, unable to speak the language, and living in a totally foreign culture, found it hard to make a good impression; by 1960s, while Nkrumah was increasingly isolated from the public for his own safety, began appearing at more public functions, and served as the chief patron of the National Council of Ghana Women and honorary chief of the Ghana Girl Guides; in later years, often lived in exile.

See also Women in World History.