Franz Kröger
Hon. Agnes Chigabatia, a “mother of all” and a great politician has died
Some of the author’s personal remarks
Hon. Agnes Asangalisa Chigabatia in 2005 (photo F. Kröger)
Actually, there was no direct reason to contact Agnes Chigabatia during my field research (between 1972 and 2012). However, it was a great coincidence that she was closely related to three of my best friends and co-workers.
I met Agnes Chigabatia when she visited our compound, Anyenangdu Yeri in 2005. She was not only related to Anamogsi, the head of the compound, whom she called “father,” but both were also keen workers in the NPP party.
She had a close and long friendship with my co-operator, Margaret Lariba Bawa (later Arnheim), an age-mate of Agnes, and several visits to Germany were planned with Margaret and also with me.
My most important co-operator since 1988 was Yaw Akumasi, and he also regarded Agnes Chigabatia as his party colleague, in whose election campaign team he was an eager member.
What I liked about Agnes’s personality was her constant willingness to help in a friendly manner. In my opinion, she had no airs or graces.
When I called her one day without prior notice, my telephone call reached her just as she was celebrating a success (I think it was her re-election as NPP candidate for the parliamentary elections). I immediately wanted to cancel the call, as I thought I was a troublemaker. Nevertheless, we had a long and friendly conversation.
Hon. Agnes Chigabatia was a Christian, she died on January 9, 2024 at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, at the age of 67, and she was buried in Navrongo on April 27, 2024.
Her death also affected me personally. May she rest in peace.
Data about her life and career
Sources: Wikipedia (English edition) and NAY/OGB
Agnes Chigabatia was born on October 20, 1956, at Chuchuliga, in the Upper East Region of Ghana. She acquired her middle school education at Adda Middle School in Navrongo and Ayieta Middle School in Sandema. Later she had her secondary school education at St. Francis Girls’ Senior High School, Jirapa. She furthered her education at the Accra Polytechnic, where she acquired a Certificate at the Advanced Level in Catering.
Agnes Chigabatia contested in the 2004 parliamentary elections on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party for the Builsa North Constituency, which she won. She pulled a total vote of 6,160 (33.70%) and represented the Builsa North constituency in the Parliament for a period of four years (January 7, 2005 – January 7, 2009) under President John Kufuor. Within this same period, Hon. Chigabatia was also the Deputy Minister for the Upper East Region.
To the Bulsa Cultural Festivals in Accra, Hon. Agnes Chigabatia contributed her great organisational talent and experience. For example, at the first festival (March 2018), the indefatigable Agnes Chigabatia organised the exhibition of Bulsa dishes and drinks (cf. J. Agandin in Buluk 11, p. 63-64). At the second festival (October 2019), she was a member of several Organizing Committees (e.g. Fund Raising, Media and Publicity, Welfare and Protocol, Exhibition and Entertainment.
Throughout her time in Parliament, Chigabatia was dedicated to women’s empowerment, consistently addressing the issue each year on Women’s Day. She actively delivered statements on the parliamentary floor to draw attention to the challenges faced by northern women.