President John Dramani Mahama has described the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, as a champion of women’s empowerment during her tenure from 1981 to 2001, calling her passing “heartbreaking.”
President Mahama and his wife, Lordina Mahama, visited the Rawlings family residence to commiserate with the family following Nana Konadu’s death on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
In his address, the President announced that the late former First Lady will be accorded a State Burial in recognition of her significant contributions to national development and public service.
“I want to express my condolences on behalf of Lordina and I on the passing of our mother. It actually came as a shock… Nana Konadu set a record in this country as the longest-serving First Lady, 19 solid years. During that time, she took women’s empowerment as her focus. Even today, across the country, evidence of her work is visible through initiatives such as oil palm extraction and gari production projects, which continue to support women and their families,” President Mahama said.
He added that the government will work closely with the Rawlings family to plan the State Funeral, which will precede any traditional funeral arrangements.
Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, speaking on behalf of the family, expressed gratitude for the President’s support. She said: “We are honoured by your presence and your words have been very encouraging. This is not only about our mother’s passing, but also a recognition of the lives she touched and the impact she had as a statesperson and mother.”
President Mahama extended the government’s sympathy to the family and reiterated the commitment to honour Nana Konadu’s legacy with dignity and full state honours.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
