Accra: Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, widow of former President Jerry John Rawlings, has passed away. Details surrounding her death, including the cause and official confirmation from her family, were yet to be made public at the time of filing this report.
According to Ghana News Agency, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was a prominent figure in Ghana's political and social life for over four decades. She served as First Lady during her husband's tenure as Head of State and later as President, first briefly in 1979 and again from 1981 to 2001.
As First Lady, she founded the 31st December Women's Movement, which became one of Ghana's most influential organisations promoting women's rights, child welfare, and grassroots development. Her work contributed significantly to policies on gender equality and female empowerment.
Born on November 17, 1948, in Cape Coast in the Central Region, Nana Konadu attended Achimota School and later the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where she was awarded a degree in Art and Design. She pursued further studies in the United Kingdom before returning to Ghana to begin her advocacy work.
In 2012, she founded the National Democratic Party (NDP) and became the first woman in Ghana's history to contest the presidency in the 2016 general election. She had four children with Former President Rawlings - Zanetor, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina, and Kimathi.
Nana Konadu's influence extended beyond politics, as she was widely recognised for championing social change and empowering women across the country. The Ghana News Agency will provide updates soon.
