First Lady Ernestina Naadu Mills admits she has never personally met Prophet TB Joshua, but says there is nothing wrong with President John Evans Atta Mills seeking spiritual support from the Nigerian maverick man of God.

Naadu, who stated she has no children of her own, disclosed her passion for dogs, her husband’s culinary habits as well as the promotion of literacy, especially for rural girls whose education is sometimes disrupted by social pressures.

She appears to love ‘Sweetie Pie’ one of the numerous wild dogs in the First Family’s private residence.

In a BBC interview with wives of some selected African leaders, the First Lady, who was a teacher, said it is ‘speculative’ to say President Mills seeks advice from the man of God TB Joshua, asking, “Who and who were there when TB Joshua advised President Mills or who and who were there when President Mills travelled to Nigeria to seek advice from TB Joshua?”

She was being interviewed yesterday by BBC Network Africa’s Veronique Edwards in a special project currently underway to give a new perspective on the wives of leaders of the African continent.

The programme has already hosted First Ladies from Sierra Leone, Sia Koroma; Namibia, Penehupito Pohamba; Zambia, Thandiwe Banda; and Uganda’s Janet Museveni.

When asked whether it is right for the prophet to influence President Mills, Mrs. Mills said, “Are these people with my husband and TB Joshua?

I mean it is speculative,” in reference to strong suggestions in NDC circles that the President listens to TB Joshua more than anybody in the party or government.

“If for example I feel like seeing a particular preacher in America and I make it a point of going to him, what is wrong with it? Why not in Africa?

“Oh yes, President Mills has seen TB Joshua in person. I have never met him. I see him on television. I watch TBN and various preachers come. I watch them.

They all have their strengths and I am happy that TB Joshua is an African and he helps people. There is something that God has endowed him with.”

She said it ‘hurts’ when people criticize her husband unjustly. “It hurts especially when whatever he is doing is given the wrong interpretation.”

Naadu Mills sounded like someone bottled up with pain in her heart when she spoke about the tribulations of her husband who has been described variously by people in his party.

It will be recalled that shortly after assuming the presidency of the country, Prof Mills embarked on a trip to Nigeria, during which speculations were rife that he had gone to confer with Prophet Joshua.

President Mills was even shown on Prophet Joshua’s Emmanuel TV network making testimonies about the efficacy of the Man of God’s spiritual intervention.

Speculations were also rife in the country that the door-to-door strategy adopted by President Mills in the heat of the last campaign season was prescribed by his Prophet Joshua.

President Mills’ spiritualism was evidenced when he once said if he had his way, he would turn the whole Castle into a prayer camp, prompting a myriad of criticisms from Ghanaians.

Taking an apparent swipe at former President Rawlings, Mrs Mills said, “If you have been a President before, perhaps conditions were different during your time so let us give this new President the chance to do or put into effect what ideas he has.

He is not taking Ghana anywhere. He wants the best for Ghana and we all should contribute to it.

“If you have been president before, things have changed. It hurts, especially when whatever is done is given the wrong interpretation. You see sitting in the armchair is not the same as holding the steering wheel,” she said in apparent defence of her husband’s ‘go slow’ governance.

Mrs. Mills noted she was happy when President Mills won the election after three attempts, saying, “He loves Ghana very much and he knew one day his message would get to voters.”

Looking back on the days when her husband entered into politics, she said, “There comes a time in one’s life when after acquiring from society and from people, you have to give back to society and moreover it was so at a time when my husband was invited as a running mate to join politics.

He is a law professor you know, and he was looking forward to retiring; but love for country took him back into politics.”

She stressed that she looks after the President very well, adding, “I am there for him. I make sure I know what he eats and he eats on time. I also studied home economics so I cook nutritious meals for him.”

Mrs. Mills said the President is a good cook and sometimes comes to the kitchen but “I do not allow him to clean up otherwise he will take the job from me.”

She said President Mills would prepare a cup of tea for her if she was indisposed.

The First Lady was concerned about the falling standards in girl-child education and gave the assurance that she would use her position to improve upon the situation.

She said her passion has been “to dress well in fitting clothes and matching colours” and that she loves nature, admires the birds and looks after plants.

The First Lady told her host about how much she loves nature, especially her numerous dogs, one of which she christened, ‘Sweet Pie’. Others are called Tandy, Candy and Max. “They are German Shepherds and Alsatians.”

She said she is a grandmother of the dogs as some have given birth to puppies and she talks to them as she would to human beings because they understand her, disclosing that when, for example, she tells them not to splash water or orders them to sit down, they comply.

With names like these, it is hardly surprising that she talks to them all the time. “They understand,” she says, becoming animated. “They lie on their back and I scratch their chests and they're happy!”

She also tends her garden which she said hosts beautiful birds which chirp in sweet voices.

By William Yaw Owusu & AR Gomda