BY Grace Zigah
Musician Belinda Nana Ekua Amoah, popularly known in showbiz circles as Mzbel, has opened up about a painful encounter she once had with the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, wife of former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Her emotional recollection followed the news of Nana Konadu’s passing, which has reignited memories of their brief but unforgettable interaction years ago.
Speaking in an interview, Mzbel narrated that the incident occurred during Jerry John Rawlings’ birthday celebration at the National Theatre in Accra.
According to her, she had been elated to see the late president, whom she admired greatly, and approached him with the intention of taking a photo together. However, her excitement was short-lived.
“It was JJ Rawlings’ birthday, and we were all invited. I was excited when I saw him and decided to hug and take pictures with him. When I got there, Nana Konadu pushed me aside. That was the biggest embarrassment of my life,” she recounted.
The singer described the incident as deeply humiliating and emotionally painful, especially because it happened in public and in the presence of other guests.
She said the snub left her wondering what could have caused such hostility from the former First Lady.
Mzbel suggested that the confrontation might have been linked to her outspoken political views during the 2016 general elections, when she openly campaigned for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the political party founded by the late President Rawlings.
Reflecting on that period, Mzbel admitted she had made “reckless” comments without fully understanding the political landscape.
“She did something that really pained me. I don’t know what I did, but during the 2016 election campaign, I was reckless. I didn’t know much about politics, so I was talking anyhow, and I think she didn’t like it. She was annoyed with me,” Mzbel confessed.
At the time, Mzbel was one of the prominent Ghanaian entertainers who had publicly declared support for the NDC, featuring in campaign activities and endorsing the then-President John Dramani Mahama.
Her comments, however, attracted criticism from sections of the public and appeared to have created friction between her and figures within the Rawlings family, particularly Nana Konadu, who had broken away from the NDC to form her own political party, the National Democratic Party (NDP).
