Former First Lady of Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, passed away on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra. She was 76 years old.
Early Life and Education
Born on November 17, 1948, in Cape Coast, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings (née Agyeman) received her early education at Ghana International School and later at Achimota School, where she met her future husband, Jerry John Rawlings.
She pursued higher education at the University of Science and Technology (now KNUST), studying Art and Textiles, before earning a diploma in Interior Design from the London College of Arts in 1975.
Over the years, she expanded her academic and professional expertise with diplomas in Personnel Management and Development Studies from Ghanaian institutions and completed fellowships in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Management in the United States.
Role as First Lady and Political Career
Nana Konadu served as Ghana’s First Lady during two major political eras—first in 1979 and later from 1981 to 2001—spanning both the military and civilian administrations of her husband, the late President Jerry John Rawlings.
She founded and led the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM) in 1982, an influential organization that sought to empower women socially, politically, and economically.
Under her leadership, the movement became one of the most impactful women’s groups in Africa, mobilising over two million women across Ghana.
In 2009, she was elected First Vice Chairperson of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and made history in 2016 as the first woman to contest Ghana’s presidency, running on the ticket of the National Democratic Party (NDP)—a party she founded after leaving the NDC. Her bold move earned her the nickname “the Hillary Clinton of Africa.”
Advocacy and Impact
Throughout her public life, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings was a formidable advocate for gender equality and social justice. Under her leadership, the 31st December Women’s Movement established over 870 pre-schools, promoted adult literacy, family planning, child development, and women’s participation in governance.
Her efforts were instrumental in Ghana becoming the first country to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991.
She also championed the Intestate Succession Law (PNDCL 111), a landmark legislation that secured inheritance rights for widows, reshaping Ghana’s customary laws on marriage and property.
Through tireless grassroots mobilization, she inspired women across the country to engage in politics and civic life, leading to a marked increase in female representation in Parliament in the early 1990s.
Legacy
Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings leaves behind a formidable legacy as one of Ghana’s most influential women—a visionary leader, a reformer, and a symbol of courage in the struggle for gender equality and national development.
Her life’s work transformed the discourse on women’s empowerment in Ghana and across Africa, and her voice remained a force for progress long after she left office.
