Ghana is grieving the loss of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, the country’s former First Lady and one of the most influential women in its political history.
She reportedly passed away on the morning of Thursday, October 23, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra, according to family sources. While an official statement is yet to be issued, multiple credible outlets have confirmed her death.
Nana Konadu, born on November 17, 1948, in Cape Coast, was the wife of late former President Jerry John Rawlings, who passed in November 2020. Together, they were a political powerhouse who shaped Ghana’s democratic landscape for decades.
Beyond being First Lady, she was a champion for women’s rights, founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement, and later leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP) — becoming one of the few women in Africa to head a political party.
Her legacy extends far beyond politics — she was a symbol of courage, advocacy, and national progress.
In recent months, she appeared at several public events, including a state ceremony at Jubilee House and the funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, where she was seen with her children, Amina and Kimathi Agyeman-Rawlings.
Tributes continue to pour in from across the nation and beyond, as Ghanaians reflect on the remarkable life of a woman who dedicated her years to empowering others.
