She is seen by political pundits as somebody who will in future lead the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), a party founded by his father. But whether Ghana will be ready for a female president is something only time will tell.
She is Dr. Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, the eldest daughter of the first President under the Fourth Republic of Ghana, former President Jerry John Rawlings (1993–2001), and former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.
Dr. Zanetor Rawlings is a medical doctor by profession and an NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Korle Klottey constituency in the Greater Accra Region. Being a member of the first family, the young Zanetor was quite shielded from the media until 1998 when her romantic affair led to accusations of human rights violations, particularly against her mother.
Her boyfriend, one Selassie O’Sullivan-Djentuh, was reportedly arrested, detained at the Osu Castle (the seat of government then) and the hair on his head reportedly shaved with a broken bottle.
Zanetor Rawlings was born in Accra, Ghana and had her basic education in North Ridge Lyceum and Achimota School. She later proceeded to Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast in the Central Region in 1995. She had her tertiary education at Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland where she graduated as a medical doctor.
In 2015, TV3 Network made her the Station Ambassador for the purpose of raising funds for the June 3rd flood disaster victims at GOIL petro station, Circle, which incident killed over 150 people in Accra with dozens being injured.
It was believed that Dr. Zanetor used that platform at that time to launch her political career although she denied using such a humanitarian work to launch her political ambition.
Few weeks later, what used to be a rumour became a reality when she picked NDC’s parliamentary form, which later enabled her to contest against the incumbent MP representing Klottey Korle constituency, Nii Armah Ashittey, and few other contestants; an election which she won.
Even though Zanetor won the primary, she is one politician, and a first-time MP, who had it tough before being elected by her constituents to represent them in Parliament as she had to fight series of legal battles in court with the then incumbent MP.
And until her new found love for politics, Dr. Zanetor, who is admired by her father, was in general practice as a doctor. Her decision to go into politics, according to her, was to become the voice for the vulnerable and the marginalised in society.
She is a single mother with three children by a Ghanaian and Scottish.
Join GhanaStar.com to receive daily email alerts of breaking news in Ghana. GhanaStar.com is your source for all Ghana News. Get the latest Ghana news, breaking news, sports, politics, entertainment and more about Ghana, Africa and beyond.
