Former Second Lady of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, has revealed that she never expected to marry a politician, saying her husband, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, was working in the banking sector when they got married.
Samira said she had no plans of becoming involved in politics and never imagined that her personal life would eventually take her into Ghana’s political space.
She made the revelation while speaking at an event organised by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the United Kingdom, excerpts of which have since been shared on social media.
“When I married my husband, he was working at the bank. He is an economist, right? I didn’t marry a politician. Never in my wildest dreams did I think, in fact, I didn’t want to marry a politician,” she said.
According to Samira, everything changed when her husband was approached about taking up a political position.
“I never imagined that I would be one. And then I woke up one day, my husband was being offered [a political position]. We didn’t sleep for a night,” she recalled.
She said the development transformed her life almost overnight, turning her into the wife of a politician despite never having planned for such a role.
“So overnight, I became a politician’s wife. I made the best of it,” she said.
Reflecting on her experience, Samira encouraged women not to wait until they feel completely prepared or confident before pursuing opportunities.
She urged women to take chances on themselves, whether it involves seeking leadership positions, starting businesses, returning to school, submitting proposals or entering politics.
“If we wait until we feel completely confident already, then many of us will never begin. Many of us will never apply for that position. Many of us will never start that business,” she said.
“Many of us will never go back to school, or write that proposal, or contest that election, or speak up in the meeting. So please, just do it. Raise your hand.”
Her comments highlighted how an unexpected change in circumstances can lead people into roles they had never originally considered, while encouraging women to act on opportunities even when they feel uncertain about taking the next step.
