FLASHBACK: How Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings’ death sent shockwaves across Ghana

On the afternoon of October 23, 2026, Ghana was plunged into a state of mourning after news broke that former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings has passed on.

Known for her decades of activism and women empowerment efforts, tribute started pouring in from all over the country and beyond.

Today, the family of the Agyeman-Rawlings holds a memorial mass for the late former First Lady at the Holy Spirit Cathedral at Adabraka at 10am.

Here's how GhanaWeb reported the incident exactly one year ago.

Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings is dead

Former First Lady of Ghana, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, has passed away at the age of 76 at the Ridge Hospital in Accra.

According to reports, Agyeman-Rawlings had been unwell for some time and was under close medical supervision prior to her passing.

She was the wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings and played a prominent role in Ghanaian politics and social advocacy.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was widely recognised for her leadership in championing women’s rights and empowering communities across the country.

Profile of late former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings

Details surrounding her passing remain unclear, as both her family and hospital authorities have yet to issue an official statement.

She served as Ghana’s First Lady from 1981 to 2001 and was the founder and leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP). She also established the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM) in 1982, an initiative aimed at empowering Ghanaian women through entrepreneurship, education, and political participation.

Her last public appearance was on September 18, 2025, when she was accompanied by her children to the final funeral rites of the Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

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