The government has confirmed the passing of former First Lady and Founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
A statement issued by the Presidency and signed by the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said Mrs Rawlings died on Thursday morning, October 23, 2025, after a short illness.
“The Government announces with deep regret and profound sorrow, the untimely passing of former First Lady and Founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement, Her Excellency Mrs. Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. Mrs. Rawlings passed this morning after a short illness,” the statement read.
The government expressed its condolences to the bereaved family, saying, “The Government extends its deepest condolences to her immediate family.”
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was the wife of the later former President Jerry John Rawlings while he served as President of Ghana.
Details surrounding her death are yet to be disclosed as the family is yet to issue an official statement.
She served as Ghana’s First Lady from June 4, 1979, to September 24, 1979, under the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), and again from December 31, 1981, to January 6, 1993, under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).
She continued in the role during her husband’s two constitutional terms from January 7, 1993 to January 6, 2001.
She founded the National Democratic Party (NDP) after she left the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and became the first Ghanaian lady to run for Presidency.
She also established the 31st December Women’s Movement in 1982, empowering Ghanaian women through entrepreneurship, education and political participation.
She was part of the dignitaries who laid wreaths at the Forecourt of the Jubilee House to honour the eight public servants who recently lost their lives in a helicopter accident in August 2025.
She was recently present at the Dote Yie funeral rites for the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was accompanied by two of her adult children, Amina Agyeman-Rawlings and Kimathi Agyeman-Rawlings. The three took turns to console Otumfuo Osei Tutu II on the loss of the Asantehemaa.
Source:Lovinghananews.com
