By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
Ghana is mourning the loss of one of its most distinguished stateswomen, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, who passed away today, Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra after a short illness. She was 76 years old.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings (17 November 1948 – 23 October 2025) was a Ghanaian politician and the widow of former President Jerry John Rawlings. She served as First Lady of Ghana from 4 June 1979 to 24 September 1979, and again from 31 December 1981 to 7 January 2001. A pioneering figure in Ghana’s political history, she was the first woman to run for President of Ghana in 2016. In 2018, she published her inspirational book titled “It Takes a Woman,” which chronicled her life, activism, and unwavering dedication to women’s empowerment.
Nana Konadu Agyeman was born in Cape Coast, Central Region of Ghana, on 17 November 1948, to J. O. T. Agyeman and his wife. She began her education at Ghana International School before proceeding to Achimota School, where she met her future husband, Jerry John Rawlings.
She later pursued Art and Textiles at the University of Science and Technology (now Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), where she served as a student leader of Africa Hall. In 1975, she obtained a diploma in Interior Design from the London College of Arts.
Continuing her education over the years, she earned a diploma in Advanced Personnel Management from Ghana’s Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) in 1979, and a certificate in Development from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in 1991. She also pursued additional courses at Johns Hopkins University and the Institute for Policy Studies in Baltimore, USA, where she earned a certificate for a fellows program in Philanthropy and Non-Profit Organizations.
Nana Konadu’s first tenure as First Lady began in 1979 after her husband briefly served as Head of State following a military coup. When Jerry Rawlings returned to power in 1981, she resumed her role and served throughout his leadership first as a military ruler, and later as a democratically elected president from 1992 to 2001.
In 1982, she founded the 31st December Women’s Movement, an organization dedicated to improving the welfare of Ghanaian women and children through education, healthcare, and economic empowerment. Her visionary leadership through the movement redefined women’s participation in national development.
Nana Konadu also played a key role in Ghanaian politics, serving as the First Vice Chairperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2009. In 2011, she made history by challenging the late President John Evans Atta Mills for the NDC’s presidential candidacy ahead of the 2012 elections a bold move that underscored her political courage and independence.
After parting ways with the NDC, she founded the National Democratic Party (NDP), becoming the first woman in Ghana’s history to lead a political party.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings will be remembered as a trailblazer, visionary leader, and champion of women’s rights who dedicated her life to advancing social justice and gender equality. Her advocacy, intellect, and compassion left an indelible mark on Ghana’s political and social landscape.
Tributes continue to pour in from political leaders, civil society organizations, and citizens across the country, all honoring her immense contribution to national development and the empowerment of women.
Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course by the family.
May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
