Ghana, on Friday, November 28, 2025, bid a final and deeply emotional farewell to former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, whose state burial at the Black Star Square brought together an extraordinary assembly of national and international dignitaries.
The solemn ceremony honoured the life and legacy of a woman widely regarded as one of the most influential public figures in Ghana’s modern history.
The late former First Lady, who passed away on October 23, 2025, at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital at age 76, was Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady, having held the role throughout both the military and constitutional administrations of her husband, the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.
The state burial, marked by quiet dignity and emotional tributes, paid homage to her more than four decades of activism, leadership, and transformative work in women’s empowerment and national development.
The event was attended by President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, government officials, Members of Parliament, and leaders across the political spectrum.
Former Presidents Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and John Agyekum Kufuor were present, as were former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his spouse, Samira Bawumia.
The gathering also included foreign dignitaries such as former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, whose presence underscored Nana Konadu’s influence beyond Ghana’s borders.
Glowing Tributes
President John Dramani Mahama, whose tribute was delivered by his Special Aide and Senior Presidential Advisor, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, described Nana Konadu as “a pioneering leader, an unwavering champion of women’s empowerment, a trailblazer in our political landscape, and a deeply committed patriot.”
According to the President, her courage, conviction, and devotion to Ghana’s progress made her an indispensable figure in shaping the nation’s social and democratic evolution. “She was far more than a former First Lady,” he said. “Her boldness to speak, to challenge, to lead, and to stand resolutely for what she believed was right for Ghana will continue to resonate for generations.”
Tributes also poured in from institutions that defined her public journey, including the National Democratic Congress, the National Democratic Party, her family, children and grandchildren, the 31st December Women’s Movement, and her alma mater.
The NDC, the party she helped build before breaking away in 2012 to establish the NDP, honoured her as “boldness personified” and “the very heartbeat of a movement that reshaped Ghana’s political, social, and democratic landscape.”
Perhaps the most emotional tribute came from her children, who remembered her not only as a national icon but as a mother of unwavering action. “Mum, you were never just advocating. You were doing. You will be remembered as a woman of action,” her son said. They described her as a force of nature whose passion for justice, empowerment, and progress shaped their lives and the nation in equal measure.
The 31st December Women’s Movement, which she founded and led for decades, celebrated her as a woman of courage, resilience, and unbreakable spirit. Through the Movement, Nana Konadu transformed the role of First Lady into a platform for social mobilisation, policy influence, and community development.
Her work in early childhood education, maternal health, women’s economic empowerment, and literacy uplifted thousands of families, especially in rural communities, and laid the groundwork for numerous gender-focused policies that Ghana continues to benefit from.
Former President Akufo-Addo also paid a moving tribute, describing her as “a trailblazer whose influence on women’s empowerment continues to shape Ghana’s history.” He recalled her determination to challenge norms, push boundaries, and open doors for future generations of Ghanaian women.
Born on November 17, 1948, in Cape Coast to the late J.O.T. Agyeman, Nana Konadu began her education at Achimota School before continuing at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where she studied Art with a specialization in Textiles.
She later obtained further qualifications in Interior Design from the London College of Arts, Advanced Personnel Management from the Management Development and Productivity Institute, and Development Studies from GIMPA. Her academic and professional path reflected the same versatility and ambition that defined her public life.
After the ceremony at the Black Star Square, she was laid to rest at the Military Cemetery at Burma Camp, where her interment drew a final, moving salute to her service to the nation.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, a woman of conviction, courage, and action, leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire efforts toward national development, gender equality, and democratic deepening.
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