Ghana is mourning the loss of one of its most influential political figures, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, who has reportedly passed away on Thursday, October 23, 2025. She was 76.
Nana Konadu, the wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, was widely respected for her pioneering role in Ghanaian politics and her tireless advocacy for women’s rights. Her death marks the end of an era in Ghana’s democratic history.
Born in 1949, she rose to national prominence as First Lady during her husband’s presidency from 1981 to 2001. Beyond her ceremonial role, she was a formidable political force in her own right—founding the 31st December Women’s Movement, which championed gender equality, education, and economic empowerment for women across Ghana.
In 2016, she made history by becoming the first woman to run for president in Ghana under the National Democratic Party (NDP), a party she founded after breaking away from the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Her passing comes nearly five years after the death of her husband, Jerry Rawlings, in November 2020. Together, they were considered one of Ghana’s most iconic political couples.
Details surrounding her death remain limited, and the family has yet to release an official statement. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Tributes have begun pouring in from across the political spectrum, with many praising her legacy as a trailblazer for women in leadership and a staunch defender of Ghanaian values.
Nana Konadu leaves behind four children, including Kimathi Rawlings, and a legacy that will continue to shape Ghana’s political and social landscape for generations.
