Ghana is in mourning following the death of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, who passed away at the age of 76 after a short illness.
The news was confirmed on Thursday morning, sending waves of sorrow across the nation and beyond.
Agyeman-Rawlings was the widow of the late former president Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana’s longest-serving leader, who died in 2020. Her death comes nearly five years after her husband’s passing, closing yet another chapter in the country’s political history.
Life and times of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings
Born in November 1948 in Cape Coast, Agyeman-Rawlings grew up in a middle-class family and attended the prestigious Achimota School in Accra, where she met her future husband.
She later pursued higher education, studying art and textiles at the university level. The couple married in 1977, a year before Jerry Rawlings joined the Ghana Air Force as a flight lieutenant.
Within a short time, he led two military coups — first in 1979 and later in 1981 — before transitioning Ghana into a democratic system, where he served two presidential terms.
As first lady, Agyeman-Rawlings earned admiration for her dedication to uplifting women and children.
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In 1982, she founded the 31st December Women’s Movement, named after her husband’s second coup, to empower women through economic training and community development initiatives.
The organisation helped countless women in rural areas gain financial independence and recognition in local governance.
She also played a role in embedding gender equality provisions in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which ushered in the era of multiparty democracy.
Despite being the spouse of one of Africa’s most powerful men, Agyeman-Rawlings carved her own political path.
In 2012, she made a bold attempt to contest for the presidency under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket but was unsuccessful.
On Thursday, October 23, her family met with President John Mahama to formally announce her passing. The president, who leads the NDC — the party founded by her late husband — joined many Ghanaians in paying tribute to her contributions to the nation.
“Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings’ legacy and dedication to empowering women and serving our country will never be forgotten. Rest inpeace madam,” Mahama said in a social media post.
Parliament later adjourned its sitting in honour of her legacy, marking the beginning of a national period of mourning.
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