I had just met Hollywood actress Sally Fields, known worldwide as an extremely talented actress with many awards to her name. I do not recall what the workshop was, but I had gone to experience her. She was petite and phenomenal and validated my homegrown solutions from my parents: hard work, humility and honesty. Meeting Sally Fields was a sort of reward for me. I had just missed Winnie Mandela. I was heartbroken, but Sally made up for it.
This was Beijing, China, 1995. It was at the fourth world women’s conference where 186 governments, UN agencies, international organizations, 17,000 participants and a further 30,000 activists attending a parallel forum converged to agree that something needed to be done to address the gender inequality in the world. I wear the title of the delegate to the Beijing conference proudly.
Although there have been strides since then, there is still so much to be done and there is so much backsliding in several other areas. Gender-based violence is on the rise in many countries, Nigeria inclusive. The stories of rape, of paedophilia, of spousal and partner murder of women, continue to stare us in the face. Then there is the issue of emotional abuse, of sick men on the prowl who drive women to despair and to depression and in some sad cases, to suicide.
But I digress.
And so in the company of Moni Adebayo, the late Dr Jemila Sada, the late Professor Jadesola Akande, the late Hajia Maryam Abubakar, Mrs Moji Makanjuola, Mrs Nkechi Nwankwo, former deputy Governor of Kaduna state, Mrs Pamela Sadauki and a host of others, we drank deep of sessions on women that spoke to us.
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It was in the middle of this mix that we were invited to an event where former first lady, Mrs Maryam Abacha was to speak, to present Nigeria’s country position on the status of women. This was when Nigeria was making strides for the ministry of women affairs. Moni and I travelled from Huaoiru to Beijing, to listen to Nigeria’s submission. It was a proud moment. There were countries who had done better than us but we had also done better than many countries.
After the speech, Moni and I were collecting literature from different countries and organizations when someone in an adorable African outfit and headgear in Kente caught my eye. That’s Nana Rawlings, I said excitedly to Moni.
She cannot be the one, Moni retorted.
Alone, at the exit door of the active conference hall. I clutched my bag hard and walked across to meet her, Moni in tow. You are not Her Excellency Mrs Nana Rawlings, are you? I blurted out. She smiled. A genuine, affectionate smile. Go on make a fool of yourself, I thought. This woman just looks uncannily like Mrs Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. Touching her headgear lightly, she said. I am she.
It was all we could do to contain our excitement.
Moni and I went round in circles. Mobile Phones were not reigning, let’s get a photographer.
Well, by the time you return, I may have left, she said. So we began to chat. She was easy to talk to and warm. So why are you sitting here? I am waiting for my President, she answered. The thought of Jerry Rawlings in Beijing and we were about to meet him was too much to bear. Then she laughed. A burst of hearty laughter, her eyes tightly shut and her pearl white teeth on display.
I am waiting for the Ghanaian ambassador to China. He is my President here. He tells me what to do. Just as we were recovering from this candid encounter, a gentleman showed up with a protocol. Your Excellency, the man said, it’s time to go. She smiled at us and said, it was nice to meet you ladies. We watched as they took off, Mrs Rawlings in the middle of the coterie.
On reflection, I just recall her sitting alone and taking direction from the Ambassador. It was surreal.
How many first ladies will sit alone in public? How many would have given upwardly mobile journalists her ten minutes?
When the former President of Ghana passed my heart went out to Mrs Rawlings and the sadness of losing her friend and husband.
Then the memory of her sitting alone composed and calm returned. That afternoon in Beijing. It was a chance meeting.
But I know that the first Ghanaian woman to run for President of Ghana would be alright. I know it in my heart.
