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Why ‘Ramatu’ is trending on Twitter after Akufo-Addo’s SONA

As President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo wrapped up his State of the Nation Address, Tuesday, social media platform, Twitter as usual was inundated with comments about his address, with various hashtags. One hashtag though, which managed to top the trends although it was not centered on the address was ‘Ramatu’ – a name that was chorused by voices believed to have emanated from the Minority in Parliament.

The Speaker of the House, Alban Bagbin, somewhat popularized ‘Ramatu’ during the inauguration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as President of the Republic on January 7, 2021, when he introduced the Second Lady Samira Bawumia as Ramatu Bawumia.

The announcement left a lot of the audience shocked, and the Speaker sensing discomfort and murmurings on the premises said “I don’t know if the Second Lady has done an affidavit to change her name but that is what I have here,” referring to the programme brochure.

This fan to flame unsubstantiated allegations that the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia possibly has another wife, a claim which has not been denied by the parties involved.

Outside the chamber of Parliament, in a giant marquee mounted at the car park of the forecourt of the State House, where President Akufo-Addo delivered his first State of the Nation Address of his second term, the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order 58, conveyed to the President, the gratitude of the House and said a formal communication will be forwarded to the Office of the President after the House has thoroughly debated the address.

Having said this, the Speaker acknowledged some dignitaries present. At the mention of Samira Ramadan Bawumia as the spouse of the Vice President, a section of the gathering begun to chorus “we want Ramatu”, eliciting a humorous response from the Speaker who said he does not know who is Ramatu.

“Honorable members, I don’t know which of you has a girlfriend called Ramatu but we don’t have any dignitary here called Ramatu,” Bagbin said.

Below are a few social media reactions.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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