Ghana Bids Farewell to Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings Today
Ghanaians gather at Black Star Square to honour the nation’s longest-serving First Lady
- State funeral held today at Black Star Square to honour former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings
- Longest-serving First Lady, she played a pivotal role in women’s empowerment, political activism, and social development
- Legacy spans over four decades
Ghana is set to pay its final respects to Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings today, Friday, 28 November, at Black Star Square, where a state funeral will be held in her honour.
The event will draw government leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional authorities, political figures, and the general public, all coming together to celebrate the life and legacy of the former First Lady, renowned for her contributions to Ghana’s political and social progress.
Preparations for the ceremony were completed on Thursday, with the funeral scheduled to commence at 8 a.m. This national farewell follows a requiem mass held on Wednesday at Accra Ridge Church, where family, friends, and dignitaries paid tribute to her decades-long influence on Ghanaian society.
As the widow of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, Nana Konadu remains the longest-serving First Lady in Ghanaian history. She served during the AFRC regime in 1979, the PNDC era from 1981 to 1993, and through her husband’s two constitutional terms from 1993 to 2001.
Beyond her ceremonial role, Nana Konadu was a trailblazer for women’s rights and political activism, founding the 31st December Women’s Movement and later the National Democratic Party (NDP). Her political journey included leaving the NDC in 2012, forming the NDP, and contesting the presidential elections in 2016.
Her impact extended into culture and the arts, where her vibrant personality, distinctive style, and love for creative expression made her a beloved public figure.
Today’s state funeral offers the nation a chance to honour a woman whose vision, courage, and activism shaped Ghana’s political and social landscape for over forty years.
