The Government of Ghana has formally announced that a state funeral will be held for the late former First Lady, Dr. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, on Friday, 28th November 2025 at Independence Square in Accra.
The announcement, issued by the Presidency’s Communications Directorate, underscores the national significance of her legacy and her far-reaching contributions to the empowerment of women and children across the country.
In a statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Member of Parliament and Spokesperson to President John Dramani Mahama, the government emphasized that the state funeral is intended to honour a woman whose public life shaped key aspects of Ghana’s social development agenda.
“The state funeral is in recognition of Mrs. Rawlings’ invaluable contributions to the advancement of the rights of women and children in Ghana, and national development”.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Member of Parliament and Spokesperson to President John Dramani Mahama
It reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to preserving the memory of a public figure whose work transformed public policy, civic engagement and gender-focused advocacy.
Dr. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, who passed away suddenly on Thursday, October 23, 2025, was Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady and a central figure in the country’s political and social evolution from the 1980s into the Fourth Republic.
Through the 31st December Women’s Movement, she championed women’s economic empowerment, family health initiatives, market cooperative structures, early childhood development and literacy programmes that influenced national discourse for more than three decades.
Her work helped reshape the architecture of women’s participation in local governance, entrepreneurship and political life. Beyond her national influence, Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings’s advocacy earned her international recognition for her commitment to gender justice, grassroots development and social mobilization.
Her sudden passing has therefore been met with an outpouring of grief, reflection and tributes from diverse sectors — political leaders, community groups, international partners and ordinary citizens who credited her with shaping their lives.
Public Appreciation and Call for Tribute
The Agyeman-Rawlings and allied families have also released a statement expressing deep appreciation for the public sympathy that has followed her death. According to the announcement, the family is “profoundly grateful to the people of Ghana and friends around the world for the overwhelming outpouring of love and sympathy following the sudden passing” of the former First Lady.
The statement noted that the condolences, tributes and shared memories have provided comfort during an especially difficult moment. As part of the broader preparations for the funeral ceremonies, the family has created multiple channels for individuals, institutions and groups to submit tributes in her honour.
Interested persons are invited to send written tributes, personal reflections, digital photographs, video memories and stories of her impact to tributes@nanakonadu.org. Contributors are encouraged to include their names and contact details to support the documentation and archival process being developed ahead of the funeral.
For those who prefer physical submissions, hard-copy tributes and printed photographs may be delivered to the Office of Former President Rawlings at No. 1 Sekou Toure Link, Ridge, near the Ridge Hospital. The family has requested that all tributes be submitted within two weeks of the announcement to allow sufficient time for compilation and integration into the funeral programme.
Enquiries and clarifications regarding the tribute process may be directed to 027 6500 008, the family announced. They emphasized their appreciation for the sustained public engagement, noting that the collective mourning reflects not only sorrow but also admiration for a woman who helped shape Ghana’s democratic and developmental trajectory.
As preparations advance, the state funeral at Independence Square is expected to draw thousands — family, sympathizers, political leaders, women’s groups, development organizations, and members of the international community.
The ceremony will stand as one of the most significant state events in recent years, honouring a public figure whose life intersected with major political transitions, social reforms and gender-focused activism.
Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings’s tenure as First Lady saw the institutionalization of several community-based initiatives, including market sanitary programs, early childhood development centres and adult literacy campaigns.
These interventions expanded opportunities for women, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities, enabling them to gain greater autonomy in household decision-making, business management and local governance participation.
Her political engagements — from grassroots mobilization to national advocacy also helped shape the landscape of women’s leadership. At various points, she stood as a symbolic and practical example of assertive female political presence, influencing generations of Ghanaian women to enter public service, entrepreneurship, civic leadership and electoral politics.
The upcoming state funeral therefore marks not only a moment of national mourning but also a recognition of her role in shaping a social movement that redefined gender relations and community development in Ghana.
The government’s acknowledgment of her legacy, through this high-level state ceremony, signals a reaffirmation of the values she championed: social equity, empowerment, grassroots participation and inclusive national development.
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