Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings passes away

Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings has reportedly died at the Ridge Hospital in Accra on Thursday, 23rd October 2025, Today.com.gh reports

A woman of many firsts in Ghanaian public life, Agyeman-Rawlings was born on 17th November 1948 in Cape Coast. She studied at Achimota School before attending the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and later the London College of Arts.

Her public profile expanded enormously when she married then-Flight-Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings in 1977. Their partnership would become central to Ghana’s political landscape.

From 31st December 1981 to 7th January 2001, alongside her husband’s presidency, Agyeman-Rawlings served as First Lady of Ghana. It was during this period that she founded and led the influential 31st December Women’s Movement, a grassroots women’s empowerment organisation that established hundreds of day-care centres and advanced women’s literacy and entrepreneurship.

Reflecting on her vision, she once said: “My desire is to see the emancipation of women at every level of development to enable them to contribute and benefit from the socio-economic and political progress of the country.”

After her tenure as First Lady, Agyeman-Rawlings did not retire from public life. She remained politically active, becoming vice-chair of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) before later leading the founding of the National Democratic Party (NDP).

Her passing marks the end of an era for a figure who was not only First Lady but a movement-builder, policy influencer, and voice for women’s rights in Ghana.

Condolences are expected from across the political, social and traditional sectors of Ghanaian society.

The family is expected to formally announce her passing in the media in the coming hours.