State funeral for Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings set for November 28

The Government of Ghana has announced that a state funeral will be held for the late former First Lady, Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, on Friday, November 28, 2025, at Independence Square in Accra.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Government Communications and signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister and Spokesperson to the President, the ceremony will be held under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama.

According to the statement, 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.”

Mrs. Rawlings reportedly passed away at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital on October 23, 2025, at the age of 76.

She was the wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings and served as Ghana’s First Lady from 1979 to 2001. During this period, she became one of the country’s most prominent advocates for women’s empowerment, founding the 31st December Women’s Movement in 1982 — an organization that worked to uplift women through economic empowerment, education, and health initiatives.

A pioneering figure in Ghanaian politics, Mrs. Rawlings made history in 2016 when she became the first woman to contest the presidency under the National Democratic Party (NDP), a party she founded after parting ways with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Beyond her political engagements, she was admired for her resilience, charisma, and lifelong commitment to social change. Her work inspired generations of Ghanaian women to take leadership roles in both politics and business.

Tributes have poured in from across the political divide. President Mahama described her as “a remarkable woman of courage whose contributions to Ghana’s social and political transformation remain indelible.”

The upcoming state funeral is expected to attract dignitaries from across Africa and beyond, as Ghana bids farewell to one of its most influential women leaders.