By Grace Zigah
The family of the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, has appealed to the general public and the media to respect their privacy as they mourn the passing of one of the most iconic political and social figures.
At a solemn press briefing held at the family residence in Ridge, Accra, the head of the Agyeman family confirmed that Nana Konadu died in the early hours of Thursday, October 23, 2025, after a short illness. She was 76 years old.
According to the family spokesperson, the Presidency has been formally notified of the passing, and a statement has already been issued by His Excellency the President confirming the news.
“The family has also officially informed His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, of the sad loss of his daughter-in-law,” the family head disclosed.
He emphasized that further details regarding funeral and burial arrangements would be made public in due course, but those announcements will come through official government channels.
“At this stage, the family is in deep mourning. We respectfully ask for privacy during this period as we come to terms with this painful loss,” the family representative appealed.
A Life of Public Service And Defiance
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was more than the former First Lady; she was a pioneering stateswoman, a women’s rights advocate, and a political trailblazer who shaped the course of Ghanaian democracy and gender empowerment for over four decades.
Her public journey began when she served as First Lady under the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) government led by her husband, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, from June to September 1979.
She continued in the same role during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era from 1981 to 1993 and through Ghana’s return to constitutional rule from 1993 to 2001.
In 1982, she founded the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM) — a groundbreaking organization that championed women’s empowerment through education, entrepreneurship, and political participation.
The DWM became a powerful vehicle for transforming rural women’s lives, helping thousands gain access to credit facilities and vocational training.
Breaking Barriers
One of Ghana’s most influential leaders, Nana Konadu took a bold step in 2012 that redefined her political image.
Disenchanted with developments in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which her husband founded, after her electoral waterloo, she broke away to establish the National Democratic Party (NDP).
That same year, she made history as the first female presidential candidate, a landmark achievement that positioned her among the continent’s most courageous female political figures.
Although her presidential bid was not successful, her audacity reshaped conversations around women in politics and leadership in Ghana.
Her Final Public Engagements
In her later years, Nana Konadu maintained a lower public profile but continued to participate in national and traditional events.
Only weeks before her passing, she was among the dignitaries who laid wreaths at the Forecourt of the Jubilee House to honour the eight public servants who perished in the August 2025 helicopter crash.
She was also present at the Dote Yie funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, where she was accompanied by her children, Amina and Kimathi Agyeman-Rawlings.
The three were received warmly by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, highlighting the enduring bond between the Rawlings family and the Ashanti Kingdom.
Legacy of Strength and Leadership
Born into a respected Ashanti royal family, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings blended regal poise with revolutionary energy.
Throughout her life, she advocated for equality, social justice, and female leadership.
To many, she represented the perfect balance between elegance and activism — a First Lady who refused to remain ceremonial.
Even after the death of her husband, former President Jerry John Rawlings, in November 2020, she continued to uphold his legacy while maintaining her own identity as a strong political voice and matriarch of modern Ghanaian politics.
