Apostle Mrs Lilian Kumah, widow of the late Dr. John Kumah has shared a captivating revelation during an exclusive interview with Asaase Radio, recounting the fateful meeting that sparked a love story lasting nearly two decades.
Lilian recounted the chance encounter that laid the foundation for her enduring relationship with ‘Johnny’. Both navigating the early stages of their careers, they crossed paths in the bustling streets of Accra.
In 2005, shortly after completing Senior High School (SHS), Lilian Kumah crossed paths with her late husband on Mallam Road, on her way to—a moment that would shape her life forever.
“I met Johnny somewhere in 2005. I had just completed SHS. We met in Accra, specifically Mallam Road. I was on my way to work. An SHS student who was working,” she said.
Lilian recollected, “I had dropped my money, and he, a recent university graduate also on his way to work, gallantly retrieved it from the gutter for me. So after that, I thanked him.”
A simple act of kindness led to a conversation that changed everything.
As if scripted, their connection deepened over plantain chips. Johnny requested some, and Lilian, with all the money she had, shared her snack. Their brief exchange sparked something more profound.
“I then bought some plantain chips, and then he asked me to buy some for him. I told him that was all the money I had on me, and so I offered him some of what I had bought.”
Lilian, then hustling in Accra, directed Johnny to a friend’s residence when he inquired about where she lived.
“And then he asked for my name and where I lived. At the time, I was hustling in Accra, so I did not really have a place that I was living. So I directed him to a friend’s home,” she mentioned.
The following Sunday, Johnny surprised Lilian by visiting her friend’s home. Clutching his Bible under his arm, he explained that he wanted to say hello after church. Their friendship blossomed, and Johnny made his intentions clear: he was going far, and Lilian was part of his journey.
Exactly one year after their initial meeting, they exchanged vows. Their love story defied convention—no elaborate courtship, no grand gestures. It was love at first sight, a quiet knowing that transcended time. Johnny became Lilian’s mentor, her teacher, and her unwavering companion.
“Then that Sunday, I saw him come to my friend’s place, with his bible under his armpit. He said he wanted to just come and say hi after he had closed from church. And that is how our friendship began. Immediately, he made me understand that he [will be] going far, and he really meant business with me. Not long after, exactly one year after our meeting, we got married. We have been together for almost 18 years,” she narrated.
Their bond endured through thick and thin, long before Johnny stepped onto the political stage. His passion for politics had roots in his school days, but their love story was more profound. Together for nearly 18 years, they weathered life’s storms, their commitment unyielding.
Lilian affectionately revealed, “It was love at first sight. He has been my mentor and my teacher, and we have been together, both good and bad times, even way before he became an active politician. He had been a politician from school days, but actively … We were together when he had his first appointment, from Hon Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, so that is how we began. We have been together since, until this unfortunate, Thursday.”
The unfolding of Lilian Kumah’s narrative paints a picture of a love story that defied odds, originating from a chance encounter on the streets of Accra and evolving into a lasting partnership of nearly two decades.
Lilian Kumah lost her husband John Kumah on March 7th, 2023. He had six children with her.
It’s rather on the 7th March 2024 not 2023
Ooooooo is so sad 😭😭😭😭😭