Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, influential advocate for women’s empowerment and widow of Ghana’s ex-president Jerry John Rawlings, dies at age 76.
Ghana is in mourning following the death of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, a prominent political figure and former First Lady, who passed away on Thursday morning, October 23, 2025, at the age of 76 after a brief illness.
Nana Konadu, the widow of Ghana’s longest-serving leader, Jerry John Rawlings, was widely regarded as a powerful voice for women’s empowerment and social progress. Her death marks the end of an era that shaped Ghana’s modern political identity.
Her passing was confirmed by Presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who described her as “a woman whose legacy will continue to inspire generations.” Tributes have since poured in from across the nation, with citizens, activists, and political leaders remembering her as both a trailblazer and a symbol of resilience.
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Born in 1948, Nana Konadu’s public life became intertwined with Ghana’s turbulent political journey. Her husband, Jerry Rawlings, led two successful coups — in 1979 and 1981 — before guiding the country into democratic governance, eventually serving as president for nearly two decades.
As First Lady, Nana Konadu transformed her position into a platform for advocacy. She founded the 31st December Women’s Movement, a non-governmental organization named after the date of her husband’s 1981 coup. Through the movement, she championed women’s rights, economic independence, and community development across Ghana’s regions.
Under her leadership, the movement initiated programs aimed at improving literacy, healthcare, and rural enterprise among women. Many credit her work with reshaping national attitudes toward gender equality and setting the stage for greater female participation in politics.
Even after her tenure as First Lady, Nana Konadu remained active in public life. She later entered the political arena in her own right, leading the National Democratic Party (NDP), which she founded in 2012. Her determination to continue shaping Ghana’s political landscape underscored her belief in civic engagement and self-reliance.
Flags were lowered to half-mast at several government institutions on Thursday, as condolences continued to flow from across Africa and beyond. For many Ghanaians, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings will be remembered not only as the wife of a revolutionary leader but as a pioneering force in her own right — a woman whose vision helped redefine the nation’s social fabric.
