On Friday, October 23, 2026, the Ghana Armed Forces and the family of the late Nana Konadu Agyeman‑Rawlings gathered at the Military Cemetery in Accra for a tomb‑unveiling ceremony to mark the first anniversary of her death. The event was held to honour her memory and reflect on her contributions to Ghana’s public life, women’s empowerment and national development.
The ceremony was attended by the Government and people of Ghana, her surviving children, the family and the 31st December Women’s Movement, all of whom laid wreaths in her honour. Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr Zanetor Agyeman‑Rawlings expressed appreciation to the Vice President and Chairperson of the Armed Forces Council, Professor Jane Naana Opoku‑Agyemang, the Military High Command and all those who supported the ceremony. She added that the family would continue to preserve and uphold the late former First Lady’s enduring legacy.
Nana Konadu Agyeman‑Rawlings, wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, died at the Ridge Hospital in Accra on October 23, 2025, aged 76. She was Ghana’s longest‑serving First Lady, holding the position under both military and civilian administrations led by her husband. She served from 4 June 1979 to 24 September 1979 under the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), and from 31 December 1981 to 6 January 1993 under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC). She continued as First Lady during her husband’s two constitutional terms, from 7 January 1993 to 6 January 2001.
Beyond her role as First Lady, Nana Konadu was a prominent advocate for women’s empowerment and political activism. She founded the 31st December Women’s Movement and later established the National Democratic Party (NDP). In June 2012 she broke away from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and formed the NDP. The Electoral Commission subsequently disqualified her and 11 other presidential candidates for failing to meet the requirements before the 30 September deadline for filing nomination documents. She contested the 2016 presidential election on the ticket of the NDP.
The unveiling ceremony served as a moment for reflection on Nana Konadu’s lasting impact on Ghanaian society, her dedication to women’s rights and her role in shaping the nation’s political landscape. The event closed with a moment of silence and a collective pledge to carry forward her legacy of service and empowerment.
