Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has described the late former first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings as an indispensable figure in Ghana’s history, noting her immense contributions to the nation and her enduring legacy.
The wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, passed away at the Ridge Hospital in Accra on Thursday October 23 at the age of 76. She was Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady and a leading advocate for women’s empowerment and social justice, most notably through her leadership of the 31st December Women’s Movement.
Speaking during a visit to commiserate with the family in Accra on Friday October 24, Mr. Kufuor said, “She did her best in her own way. In her life, she gave birth to beautiful children and served Ghana well.”
“You cannot write Ghana’s history without her name in it. She contributed significantly to the making of Ghana, and her name will forever be etched in granite in our history. So please, do not be sad. The whole of Ghana, and indeed the world, mourns her loss.”
Former President Kufuor recounted his personal encounter with Nana Konadu shortly before her passing.
“I am truly surprised because on Wednesday, I went to church late. When I got there, she was already seated, and my friend was sitting beside her. During the offertory, she came to ask me how I was doing, and I told her I was fine; there was nothing to suggest she was unwell.
“Yesterday, around 10 a.m., I had some visitors, and one of them asked if I had heard what had happened—that Nana Konadu had passed away. I asked how that was possible, because I had seen her yesterday. But God knows best, and I have come to commiserate with you.”
Her passing has elicited condolences from across Ghana. The Acting Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, in a statement on October 24, 2025, described her as a woman of “remarkable vision, courage, and conviction,” whose life and work left an enduring mark on Ghana’s social and political landscape.
He emphasised her tireless advocacy for gender equality and social justice, noting that her influence would continue to resonate with the countless Ghanaians whose lives she touched.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course, as the nation continues to mourn the loss of a stateswoman whose contributions helped shape modern Ghana.
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