Family members, political leaders, and sympathisers gathered at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Adabraka, Accra, on Friday to commemorate the first anniversary of the passing of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, honouring a woman whose nearly two-decade tenure reshaped the role of First Lady in Ghana and whose advocacy for women’s rights left an enduring mark on the nation’s legal and social landscape.
The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, graced the occasion, joined by Chief of Staff Dr. Julius Debrah, Deputy Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui, and NDC General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey . Members of the late former First Lady’s family, including her daughter Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, currently Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, and her siblings, arrived dressed in black and white attire for the solemn service .
A Life of Service Remembered
Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings, who was 76, died at the Ridge Hospital in Accra on October 23, 2025, from acute asthma . She served as First Lady from June 4 to September 24, 1979, and again from December 31, 1981, to January 7, 2001—a span of 19 years that remains the longest in Ghana’s history .
During the Memorial Mass, the Assistant Priest of the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Rev. Fr. Michael Dziwornu Etsey, urged citizens to make good use of the time available to them by serving humanity selflessly, walking in humility, and living lives worthy of their calling. He said the occasion was not only an opportunity to give thanks for the life and impact of the late former First Lady but also a reminder to the living to reflect on their own lives and the legacy they wished to leave behind .
Drawing lessons from biblical readings, Rev. Fr. Etsey called on Christians to live in a manner worthy of their calling—humility, gentleness, patience, and love. “My calling is to be a priest. Your calling is to be a father, a leader, a president, a vice-president. Whatever your calling is, you must walk worthily in the manner of your calling,” he said . He also urged parents to exercise patience and gentleness in raising their children, cautioning that harsh words and uncontrolled anger could undermine relationships and create divisions within families.
Tomb Unveiling at Military Cemetery
Earlier on Friday, the Agyeman-Rawlings family held a tomb unveiling ceremony at the Military Cemetery to commemorate the anniversary. Wreaths were laid in her honour by the Government and people of Ghana, the surviving children, the family, and the 31st December Women’s Movement . Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings expressed appreciation to the Vice-President and Chairperson of the Armed Forces Council, the Military High Command, and all present for their support, adding that the family would continue to preserve and uphold her enduring legacy .
A Legacy Etched in Law and Social Change
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings founded the 31st December Women’s Movement in 1982, which became one of Ghana’s most influential women’s organisations, championing access to education, childcare, and vocational training for women, particularly in underserved communities . Under her leadership, the movement established schools, nurseries, and cooperatives across the country, with the family noting that more than 1,000 early childhood development centres were constructed nationwide .
Her advocacy contributed to landmark legal reforms, including the Intestate Succession Law (PNDCL 111), which secured inheritance rights for widows and children, and she played a key role in shaping the 1992 Constitution’s gender equality provisions . She was also instrumental in Ghana becoming the first country in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990 .
In 2011, she made history as the first woman to contest the leadership of the National Democratic Congress, challenging then-President John Evans Atta Mills. Though unsuccessful, her candidacy was seen as a landmark moment for women’s political participation in Ghana. She later founded the National Democratic Party in 2012 .
President John Dramani Mahama, in a tribute read on his behalf at her state funeral in November 2025, described her as “a towering national figure whose influence, courage and contributions to Ghana would continue to resonate for generations,” adding that “Nana Konadu was far more than a former First Lady. She was a pioneering leader, an unwavering champion of women’s empowerment, a trailblazer in our political landscape and a deeply committed patriot” .
Family and Public Invited to Reflect
In a statement ahead of the anniversary, the family described Nana Konadu as a devoted mother, grandmother, and aunt, as well as a distinguished gender advocate whose work helped reshape the role of First Ladies in Ghana. They encouraged members of the public to wear white or black-and-white attire for the memorial mass .
The service concluded with prayers for the eternal repose of the soul of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and other departed souls .
She is survived by her four children—Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina, and Kimathi—and several grandchildren.
