Ghana is this morning paying its final respects to former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings as her state funeral gets underway at the Black Star Square in Accra.
The ceremony, which begins at 8 a.m., marks the culmination of national preparations to honour one of the country’s most influential women.
Dignitaries, diplomats, traditional leaders, political figures, and members of the public have begun arriving at the square to witness the final rites for the former First Lady, whose impact on women’s empowerment and national development spans more than four decades.
Government earlier announced the funeral arrangements through a statement by the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, noting that the state-assisted burial reflects the nation’s gratitude for her lifelong service.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings died on October 23, 2025, at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital after a short illness.
Born on November 17, 1948, in Cape Coast to the late J.O.T. Agyeman, she attended Achimota School before studying Art (Textiles) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
She later pursued Interior Design at the London College of Arts and earned additional diplomas in Advanced Personnel Management and Development.
As First Lady, she established the 31st December Women’s Movement in 1982, championing women’s rights, literacy, entrepreneurship, and inheritance reforms. Her advocacy transformed policies and opened new opportunities for women across Ghana.
She remained politically active long after her husband’s presidency, serving as the NDC’s first Vice Chairperson before forming the National Democratic Party in 2012 and contesting the 2016 presidential election.
Married to the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, she is survived by their four children—Zanetor, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina, and Kimathi.
As the nation gathers today, the Black Star Square becomes the final stage of a life marked by bold leadership, activism, and unwavering dedication to the Ghanaian woman.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
