By Daniel Bampoe
Ghana has officially entered a period of national mourning following the passing of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, one of the country’s most influential political figures and advocates for women’s empowerment.
In a statement released by the Presidency on Friday, October 24, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama announced three days of national mourning to honour the memory of the late stateswoman.
The period of mourning spans from Friday, October 24, to Sunday, October 26, 2025.
According to the statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, all national flags are to fly at half-mast across public buildings, diplomatic missions, and government installations both in Ghana and abroad.
Honouring a Lifetime of Service
President Mahama’s directive is in recognition of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings’s distinguished service to the Republic of Ghana, particularly in the areas of women’s empowerment, child welfare, and social development.
The statement described her as a woman of “dedication and commitment” whose contributions reshaped national policies and inspired generations of Ghanaian women.
Nana Konadu, who passed away in the early hours of Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra at the age of 77, was the widow of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings. Her death comes five years after the nation bid farewell to her husband in November 2020.
A Towering Figure
As the longest-serving First Lady, Nana Konadu played a transformative role in redefining the position of women in governance.
She founded the 31st December Women’s Movement, which became one of the most powerful grassroots organizations in post-independence Ghana.
Through this movement, she championed women’s access to education, entrepreneurship, and social protection programs, particularly in rural communities.
Her activism also extended into the political arena. After years of service alongside her husband in the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and later the National Democratic Congress (NDC), she founded the National Democratic Party (NDP) in 2012, symbolizing her independent political will.
Her advocacy for women’s rights helped shape key pieces of national legislation, including the Intestate Succession Law (PNDCL 111) and gender provisions in the 1992 Constitution, ensuring equitable rights for women and children in inheritance and governance.
National Reflection and Condolences
President Mahama’s declaration of national mourning is not only a mark of respect but also a signal of unity across the political spectrum.
Tributes have poured in from political leaders, civil society groups, and international organizations, acknowledging Nana Konadu’s monumental impact on the development.
“The Government extends its deepest condolences to the family, her children, and all who mourn this irreplaceable loss,” the presidency’s statement read.
