Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed profound sadness over the death of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, describing her as an extraordinary woman whose influence on women’s empowerment and national development will be remembered for generations.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 23, 2025, the former President said he and his wife, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, were “deeply saddened by the untimely passing of the wife of the late first President of the Fourth Republic, His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings — Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady and Founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement.”
Akufo-Addo hailed Mrs. Rawlings as “a role model for women in Ghana and across Africa,” emphasizing that her tireless work in gender advocacy and empowerment left a lasting imprint on the nation.
“Her commitment to advancing the women’s movement in Ghana and Africa can never be forgotten. She was a warm, affectionate woman with a great sense of humour and delightful company,” he noted.
The former President extended heartfelt condolences to the children and family of the late First Lady, praying for comfort and strength in their time of grief.
“Rebecca, my children, and I extend our deepest condolences to her children and family on this sad occasion. May her soul rest peacefully in the bosom of the Almighty until the Last Day of the Resurrection, when we shall meet again,” he added.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement and wife of the late President Jerry John Rawlings, was widely celebrated for her pioneering advocacy in women’s rights, education, and social welfare across Ghana and the African continent.
