Ghana has lost one of its most formidable daughters. Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, born on 17 November 1948 in Cape Coast, Ghana’s Central Region, was a pioneering stateswoman, academic, author, and women’s rights advocate. She passed away on 23 October 2025, leaving an enduring legacy of leadership, resilience, and empowerment.
As the First Lady of Ghana from 4 June 1979 to 24 September 1979, and again from 31 December 1981 to 7 January 2001, Nana Konadu redefined the role of a First Lady in Africa. More than a ceremonial figure, she was a policymaker, a reformer, and an activist who dedicated her life to advancing the rights and welfare of women and children.
A Scholar and Visionary
Nana Konadu’s passion for creativity and development was reflected in her academic pursuits. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Art (Graphic Design, specialising in Textiles) from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), followed by a Diploma in Interior Design from the London College of Arts in 1975.She further deepened her expertise with a Diploma in Advanced Personnel Management from the Management Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI) in 1979, and a Certificate in Development from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in 1991. She furthered her studies abroad at Johns Hopkins University and the Institute for Policy Studies in Baltimore, USA, where she completed a Fellows Program in Philanthropy and Non-Profit Organisations.
Her commitment to learning went beyond personal advancement as she believed education was the most powerful tool for transformation, especially for women and girls.
Champion of Women and Children
In 1982, Nana Konadu founded the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM); an organization that grew into one of the most influential women’s movements in Africa. Under her leadership, the DWM expanded to over two million members and established more than 870 pre-schools across Ghana, significantly improving access to early childhood education.
The movement promoted child development, family planning, literacy, and encouraged women to partake in politics, leadership, and decision-making. Her activism played a key role in positioning women as stakeholders in governance and development.
Thanks to her tireless advocacy, Ghana became the first country in the world to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, a milestone that underscored her international influence.
Through her speeches and programs, Nana Konadu consistently emphasised that empowering women was not merely a matter of equality, but a prerequisite for national progress.
“When you empower a woman, you empower a family. And when you empower a family, you empower a nation,” she once said.
A Political Trailblazer
Nana Konadu’s boldness in politics was unmatched. In 2016, she made history as the first woman to run for the Presidency in Ghana, leading the National Democratic Party (NDP). Her decision to contest for the highest office marked a watershed moment in Ghana’s political history, inspiring a new generation of women to pursue leadership roles in governance and public service. Despite the challenges and controversies, she remained steadfast in her convictions, embodying courage and perseverance.
Author, Advocate, and Legacy
Beyond politics, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings was also an author and speaker who used her voice and platform to promote gender equity, social justice, and African self-determination. Her literary and public engagements focused on the intersections of development, culture, and empowerment. She received numerous local and international awards recognising her contributions to women’s rights, education, and social development.
Personal Life and Legacy
Married to the late Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana’s longest-serving Head of State, Nana Konadu was the matriarch of one of Ghana’s most prominent political families. Her children, Dr Zanetor Agyeman- Rawlings, Yaa Asantewaa Agyeman-Rawlings, Amina Agyeman-Rawlings, and Kimathi Rawlings, continue to uphold the values of service, integrity, and patriotism she embodied.
Her life’s journey from student and artist to First Lady and presidential candidate is a testament to the power of education, conviction, and unwavering commitment to social progress.
Her passing marks the end of an era, yet her influence continues to live on in the thousands of women she inspired, the schools she helped build, and the countless children whose futures were shaped by her vision.
“She walked so that others could run,” a phrase often used to describe trailblazers, fits Nana Konadu perfectly. Her influence will continue to inspire generations of Ghanaian women to lead, serve, and make history.
