Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings laid to rest
Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings was on Friday, November 28, laid to rest after a solemn state funeral at the Black Star Square in Accra, where thousands of mourners and national leaders gathered to pay their final respects.
The ceremony brought together a rare assembly of Ghana’s political leadership.
Among those present were Former President John Agyekum-Kufour, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo; President John Dramani Mahama and former First Lady Lordina Mahama; former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira Bawumia.
Members of both the Majority and Minority caucuses in Parliament, national executives of political parties, statesmen, chiefs, clergy and representatives of civil society organisations were also in attendance.
A series of tributes was delivered by the Aboatia Family of Mpobi, her children, grandchildren, siblings, and close associates. The family described her as a towering figure whose strength, compassion and discipline shaped generations.
“She carried the family’s honour with dignity,” they said, recalling her role as a unifier and pillar of moral guidance.
The 31st December Women’s Movement honoured her for pioneering women’s empowerment and advancing gender rights across Ghana. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) praised her foundational work in promoting social justice and strengthening grassroots political mobilisation.
The National Democratic Party (NDP), which she founded, described her as the party’s “guiding light,” emphasising that her moral strength, intellectual clarity and lifelong advocacy for the underprivileged remain central to the party’s identity.
Various institutions, including the OAA 1966/67 Year Group, also delivered tributes recounting her leadership and influence during her formative years.
Hymns, prayers and traditional rites marked the ceremony as mourners reflected on her decades of service to national development. After the final honours were performed, the procession moved from the Black Star Square to the Chardo Military Cemetery, where Nana Konadu was laid to rest.
She was buried near the grave of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, a symbolic placement that underscores her stature as one of Ghana’s most distinguished public figures.
The national farewell follows a requiem mass held on Wednesday at the Accra Ridge Church, where family members, friends and dignitaries offered tributes that underscored the depth of her contribution to Ghana’s political and social development.
Nana Konadu, wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, was Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady, holding the position across both military and civilian administrations led by her husband.
She served from June 4, 1979, to September 24, 1979, under the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), and again from December 31, 1981, to January 6, 1993, under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).
She continued in the role during her husband’s two constitutional terms from January 7, 1993, to January 6, 2001.
Beyond her role as First Lady, Nana Konadu was a pioneer in women’s empowerment and political activism, founding the 31st December Women’s Movement and later the National Democratic Party (NDP).
In June 2012, she split from the NDC and formed the National Democratic Party (NDP). The Electoral Commission subsequently (EC) disqualified her and 11 other presidential candidates for failing to meet requirements before the September 30 deadline to file nomination documents.
She contested again in 2016 on the ticket of the NDP.
Her impact extended beyond politics and advocacy. Known for her distinct fashion sense, love for the arts and spirited personality, she became an enduring figure of cultural expression and confidence.
