Ghana Mourns Passing of Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings at 76

Ghana is mourning the loss of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, who passed away at the age of 76 on Thursday, October 23, 2025. She died at the Ridge Hospital in Accra after a brief illness, leaving behind a legacy as a prominent political figure and advocate for women’s empowerment across the nation.

Born on November 17, 1948, in Cape Coast, Central Region of Ghana, Nana Konadu hailed from a distinguished lineage with ties to the Ashanti royal family. She was educated at prestigious institutions including Achimota School, where she met her late husband, Jerry John Rawlings. Nana Konadu served two terms as Ghana’s First Lady, first briefly in 1979 and then from 1981 until 2001 during her husband’s leadership.

Her husband, Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana’s longest-serving leader, passed away in November 2020, five years prior to her death. Together, they shaped Ghana’s political landscape significantly, with Rawlings leading two military coups before being elected president in multiparty elections.

Nana Konadu was not only a devoted First Lady but also a formidable political player in her own right. She founded the 31st December Women’s Movement, aimed at empowering Ghanaian women socially and economically. Additionally, she established the National Democratic Party (NDP) after departing from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the party founded by her husband.

Known for her tireless advocacy on social development and women’s rights, she remained active in public life until recent times. Among her latest appearances were the funeral rites for Nana Konadu Yiadom III, the late Asantehemaa, and participation in memorials for government officials lost in a helicopter crash.

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Her family has officially informed President John Mahama, the current leader of the NDC party, of her passing. The nation joins in tributes pouring in on social media honoring a woman whose contributions to Ghana’s political and social arenas will long be remembered.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings leaves behind four children and a lasting legacy of dedication to Ghana’s progress and the empowerment of its women. Her death marks the end of an era in Ghanaian political history.