It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Nana Konadu
Agyeman-Rawlings, former First Lady of Ghana, on Thursday, 23 October
2025, in Accra. She was 76-77 years old, having been born on 17
November 1948.
Life and Public
Service
Nana Konadu served as First Lady of Ghana during a period spanning military
and civilian administrations. Her tenure included:
- From 4 June 1979 to 24
September 1979 under the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) led by her husband.
- From 31 December 1981 to
6 January 1993 under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).
- From 7 January 1993 to 6 January 2001, during the two civilian presidential terms of Jerry John Rawlings.
Beyond her role as First Lady, she was the founder and leader of the
31 December Women’s Movement, a grassroots organization mobilizing more than
two million women across Ghana, active in literacy, pre-school education and
empowerment programs.
In 2016 she made history by becoming the first woman to contest the
presidency of Ghana.
Background &
Education
- Born in Cape Coast in
the Central Region of Ghana.
- Attended Achimota School
and later studied Art & Textiles at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
- Earned a diploma in Interior
Design from the London College of Arts in 1975.
- Later undertook
certificates/diplomas in personnel management and development at Ghanaian
institutions.
Legacy & Impact
Nana Konadu was widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most influential women
leaders. She transformed the role of First Lady into a proactive platform for
social change, especially for women and children; advocated for gender equality;
and built institutions to support women’s economic participation and education.
Her book, It Takes a Woman, published in November 2018, chronicled
her journey and advocacy.
Death &
Succession
She passed away at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge) in Accra
after a short illness. Her death triggers nationwide mourning for a figure who
held a unique place in Ghana’s public life.
In Memoriam
As the nation comes together to remember her, we reflect on her many
contributions: mobilising women, championing education, breaking political
barriers and leaving a mark on Ghana’s social and political fabric. Her legacy
will endure in the institutions she built and the lives she touched.