Nana Konadu Agyeman‑Rawlings has died at age 76

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, a towering figure in Ghana’s political and social landscape, died on Thursday, 23 October 2025, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra. She was born on 17 November 1948 in Cape Coast in the Central Region.

She served as First Lady of Ghana during her husband Jerry John Rawlings’ tenure from 1981 to 2001 and again briefly in 1979. Her leadership extended beyond ceremonial office into activism, politics, and social reform.

Nana Konadu founded the 31 December Women’s Movement, committed to women’s empowerment, education and health. Under her direction, the group set up hundreds of pre-schools and championed reforms such as the Intestate Succession Law, improving women’s rights in Ghana.

Her political career included founding the National Democratic Party (NDP) after leaving the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), underscoring her independent influence in Ghanaian politics.

In recent public appearances, she took part in major national events, including the wreath-laying ceremony at the forecourt of the Jubilee House for victims of the August 6 helicopter crash and the Dote Yie funeral rites for the late Asantehemaa.

There is no official statement yet from the Rawlings family or government representatives at the time of publishing.

Her legacy spans decades of public service, advocacy for women and social justice, and political leadership. Her passing leaves a significant gap in Ghana’s civic and political life.