Accra, October 23, 2025 — Naija247news
Ghana is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic political figures and women’s rights champions, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the country’s former First Lady, who died on Thursday morning at the age of 76 after a short illness.
Nana Konadu was the widow of the late Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana’s longest-serving leader who died five years ago. Together, they shaped a defining era in Ghana’s political history — one that blended revolution, reform, and the rise of democratic governance in West Africa.
A Partnership Forged in History
Born in November 1948 in Cape Coast, Nana Konadu came from a middle-class background and attended the prestigious Achimota School in Accra, where she met her future husband. She later studied art and textiles at university, while Rawlings pursued a military career in the Ghana Air Force.
Their union, formalized in 1977, would soon evolve into one of Ghana’s most influential and, at times, controversial political partnerships. By the time Rawlings seized power in 1979 at age 32, Nana Konadu had already established herself as one of his most trusted confidantes and political strategists.
From First Lady to Feminist Leader
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings played a pivotal role in advancing women’s empowerment and social justice in Ghana. She founded the 31st December Women’s Movement, named after the date of Rawlings’ second coup in 1981, as a vehicle for promoting women’s rights, entrepreneurship, and education in rural communities.
Her efforts were instrumental in pushing through the landmark 1989 law on inheritance rights, which guaranteed fair treatment for women and children, and in shaping the gender equality provisions enshrined in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution — a foundation for the country’s modern democracy.
As the movement’s president, Nana Konadu championed economic independence for women, creating cooperatives, skill acquisition programs, and microcredit opportunities that transformed thousands of lives across Ghana.
Tributes Pour In Across Ghana and Beyond
News of her death sparked an outpouring of tributes from political leaders, civil society groups, and citizens who revered her as a trailblazer for women in leadership.
According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, spokesperson for the presidency, the former First Lady passed away in the early hours of Thursday and her family has formally notified President John Mahama of her passing.
During the swearing-in ceremony of new High Court Justices, President Mahama paused to honour her memory, describing her as “a formidable woman whose influence transcended politics and touched the core of Ghanaian society.”
The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition also issued a statement, with spokesperson Richmond Rocksonpraising her as “an exceptional First Lady whose visionary leadership and strong organisational skills left an indelible mark on Ghana’s history.”
“She stood firmly by Chairman Jerry John Rawlings during the revolution, displaying courage, loyalty, and resilience at a defining moment in our nation’s journey,” the statement read.
A Political Force in Her Own Right
Beyond her role as First Lady, Nana Konadu was herself a political contender. In 2012, she sought the presidential ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) — the party founded by her late husband — though she lost the primary. Her campaign, however, underscored her independent spirit and desire to redefine women’s participation in national politics.
Her eldest daughter, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, now serves as an NDC member of parliament, continuing the family’s political legacy.
Ghana’s Parliament adjourned its sitting in her honour, while social media has been flooded with heartfelt tributes celebrating her as “a mother of the nation,” “a pillar of Ghanaian democracy,” and “the face of women’s political awakening in Africa.”
A Lasting Legacy
In a country still navigating its democratic and social evolution, Nana Konadu’s life remains a powerful symbol of the strength and resilience of African women who rise beyond the confines of tradition to shape their nations’ destinies.
As Ghana prepares for a state funeral, many reflect on her enduring legacy — one that fused revolutionary courage, maternal compassion, and unwavering commitment to the empowerment of women.
Her story reminds the continent that behind every revolution lies the heart and intellect of those who dare to believe in progress — and few embodied that belief more profoundly than Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
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Reporting by Naija247news in Lagos, Nigeria.
