Ghana Mourns Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings' Death at 76

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Ghana's former First Lady and a pioneering advocate for women's empowerment, died at age 76 after a short illness. She was the wife of Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana's longest-serving leader, and served as First Lady during his military and democratic presidencies from 1979 to 2001. She founded the influential 31st December Women’s Movement, which promoted literacy, healthcare, economic empowerment, and political participation for women, reshaping gender policy in Ghana. Beyond her role as First Lady, she made history as the first Ghanaian woman to challenge a sitting president for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential nomination in 2011 and later founded the National Democratic Party (NDP). Her political activism and leadership extended into her later years, including her 2016 presidential candidacy, marking her as one of Ghana's most significant female political figures. Government officials, including the Presidency and Parliament's Majority Caucus, have expressed profound sorrow and condolences over her passing, recognizing her substantial contributions to Ghanaian society and women's rights.