The Korle Klottey MP, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has recalled one of the most enduring lessons she received from her late father, former President Jerry John Rawlings: never inherit the enemies of your parents.
Speaking on JoyNews’ podcast Talk No Dey Cook Rice, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said the advice came when she was about 11 years old, during an incident she prefers not to detail.
“I remember my father actually saying to me that don’t make enemies of your parents’ enemies, which I thought was very profound, and it stayed with me,” she said. “It’s something that I’ve lived by, and I’m very, very careful not to treat people badly because of who they may be associated with.”
Reflecting on her father’s leadership, she said Rawlings bore the weight of responsibility for events during his time, even for actions he had no direct involvement in.
“As a leader, he decided that he would let the buck stop with him. A lot of things that many people had accused him of actually had nothing to do with him, but he took ownership of everything, because that’s what you do as a leader.”
She acknowledged the pain of being judged for her father’s actions, especially when misinformation about him persists.
“I’m not under any illusion that my father was loved by everyone. There has been a lot of misinformation. And in a society, when you have people who feel that they must have a swipe at the child of someone because of their disdain for the parent, I’m not quite sure if it shows a certain level of maturity.”
The MP said she has drawn strength from her father’s example, as well as her own faith, in facing personal and political attacks.
“You can’t change how people will react to you because they’re upset, angry, resentful, or maybe just ignorant of something. I have no respect for people who are cowards. If you have something to say, own up and say it.”
She stressed that leadership must come with humility and respect.
“With greater responsibility, with positions of leadership, should come greater humility, greater decorum, greater respect for one another, because those are the ways in which you set an example for what leadership should look like.”
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings revealed that her resilience is also anchored in prayer. “I do pray a lot. You just surrender certain things, and you pray for the grace to move on and to keep focused on your purpose.”
Despite the abuse she has sometimes endured, she insists on rising above negativity.
“Each of us has a destiny. When you start looking too much at what somebody else in their path is doing, you may lose your path. If God says this is the role you are supposed to play, only you can change that.”
She warned that critics often try to break conviction.
“Sometimes people realise that if they try and attack you and make you feel bad, maybe they can get you to move away from what you believe in.
“So you have to try not to be reactionary so much that you lose your pathway. Then those who aren’t even doing what they should do have won.”
For her, her father’s wisdom remains a guiding principle in navigating public service and personal trials.
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