Ghana mourns the loss of one of its most influential women in history – former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings who reportedly passed away at the Ridge Hospital at the age of 76 on Thursday, 23rd October 2025.

The news has sent shockwaves across the nation with tributes already pouring in from political figures, women’s groups and citizens who remember her as a fearless advocate for women empowerment and national development.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, was not only Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady but also a pioneering voice in politics. As the founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement, she championed policies and programs that reshaped the social and economic lives of Ghanaian women, from education and health to leadership and entrepreneurship.

Beyond politics, she was a symbol of resilience, elegance and patriotism. Her confidence, bold fashion statements and firm presence in public life inspired generations of Ghanaian women to step into leadership with pride.

In 2016, she made history as the first woman to run for President in Ghana, leading the National Democratic Party (NDP), a move that further cemented her place in Ghana’s democratic evolution.

As the nation reflects on her legacy, one thing remains clear! Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was more than a First Lady. She was a movement, a matriarch and a mirror of Ghana’s evolving women in leadership story and her impact will continue to echo through the lives she touched and the systems she helped build.

May her soul rest in perfect peace.