Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings
The late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, will be given a state burial on November 28, 2025 at the Independence Square, the government has announced.
This was contained in a communique released by the Minister for Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, yesterday.
According to the statement, “The Government of Ghana under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama will hold a state burial for late former First Lady Mrs Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings on Friday, November 28, 2025 at the Independence Square.”
It added that the state funeral is in recognition of the former First Lady’s contribution to the development of the country, especially in the area of women’s empowerment.
“The state funeral is in recognition of Mrs. Rawlings invaluable contribution to the advancement of the rights of women and children in Ghana and national development,” it stressed.
The late Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings passed on October 23, 2025, at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital at Ridge, aged 76.
She joins her husband, Jerry John Rawlings, who died on November 12, 2020, 20 days away from the anniversary of his transition.
Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings was born on November 17, 1948 and became the First Lady from June 4, 1979 to September 24, 1979 and from December 31, 1981 to January 7, 2001.
Her political ambition drove her to become the first female to vie for the position of President in 2016, when she formed a political party – the National Democratic Party (NDP). She won 0.16% of the votes cast in the 2020 general election.
She had fallen out with the political party her husband founded, the NDC, not enthused with the management of the party when her husband took leave of its activities.
She was elected First Vice Chairperson of the NDC in 2009 and later in 2011.
Her attempt at becoming the flagbearer of the NDC in 2012 against Prof. JEA Mills failed.
Her no-love-lost relationship with the NDC until she took her last breath is household knowledge in the political space of the country.
By Florence Asamoah Adom