The state funeral of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady and wife of the first President of the Fourth Republic, the late Jerry John Rawlings, is being held today, Friday, November 28, 2025.
The ceremony, scheduled to begin at 0800 hours, has drawn state officials, political leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, parliamentarians, traditional authorities, gender advocates, the clergy and other dignitaries to honour her memory.
A solemn Requiem Mass was earlier held on Wednesday, November 26, at the Accra Ridge Church, where prayers and tributes highlighted the profound mark she left on the nation.
Her family has expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for the unwavering support shown since her passing on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
Nana Konadu, Founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement, is widely remembered as a transformative figure whose strength, activism and relentless advocacy for women’s empowerment reshaped national development.
Tributes have described her as “a true national treasure”, “an indomitable spirit”, and “a beacon of women’s empowerment”. Among them was a message from Madam Simone Giger, Ambassador of Switzerland to Ghana, who praised her “determination and dedication to women’s rights”.
Beyond politics and public service, Nana Konadu was also celebrated for her vibrant love of fashion, music, dance and the creative arts—qualities that cemented her status as a cultural icon.
Born on November 17, 1948, in Cape Coast to J.O.T. Agyeman and Felicia Agyeman, both of blessed memory, the Ashanti royal was raised in an environment of discipline, ambition and leadership.
She attended Achimota School before pursuing a degree in Arts with a specialisation in Textile Design at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where she served as Deputy SRC Secretary and later SRC Secretary, and took on roles within the National Union of Ghana Students.
Her academic achievements include a diploma in Interior Design from the London College of Arts; a Diploma in Advanced Personnel Management from the Management Development and Productivity Institute (1979); a Certificate in Development from GIMPA (1991); and a Senior Fellow Diploma in Policy Studies and Non-Profit Sector Economic Development from Johns Hopkins University (1994).
Between 1974 and 1980, she worked with the Union Trading Company in Accra and later with Nanali Africarts from 1980 to 1984. It was during this period that she founded the 31st December Women’s Movement, which became instrumental in advancing the socio-economic empowerment of women nationwide.
In 1977, she married Jerry John Rawlings, then an Air Force Officer who would later serve as Head of State and President. Their marriage was blessed with four children—Zanetor, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina and Kimathi—and became a partnership that significantly shaped Ghana’s political history and progress on gender equality.
Watch the livestream of the funeral below:
BAI
