Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings' Death: Mahama Declares 3 Days Of National Mourning

• The government has begun its official mourning of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings
• Ghana's longest-serving first lady, who was married to former President JJ Rawlings, died on October 23
• Tributes have poured in from government officials and former leaders following Nana Konadu's passing

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President John Mahama has declared three days of national mourning in honour of the late former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

The three days of mourning will be from October 24 to October 26, 2025.

In a statement, the government said all flags would fly at half mast during this period.

Agyeman-Rawlings died at Ridge Hospital in Accra on October 23 after an illness.

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She was 76 years old. The Rawlings family appealed for privacy in their time of grief.

Agyeman-Rawlings' daughter, Zanetor, officially informed the presidency of the passing later on the day she died.

In tribute to her, Mahama said that Agyeman-Rawlings’ legacy and dedication to empowering women and serving the country would never be forgotten.

Who is Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings?

Agyeman-Rawlings was born in Cape Coast in the Central Region on November 17, 1948.

She attended Ghana International School and later moved to the Achimota School, where she met her future husband.

She went on to study Art and Textiles at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi.

She was a student leader of her hall of residence, Africa Hall at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

In 1975, she earned an interior design diploma from the London College of Arts.

Her studies also took her to the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Johns Hopkins University and the Institute for Policy Studies in Baltimore, USA.

In her first term as First Lady, she set up the December 31st Women's Movement in 1982 to champion the emancipation of women.

NDC mourns former First Lady Nana Konadu

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Congress expressed deep sorrow following the death of Agyeman-Rawlings.

The party described her as a remarkable woman whose lifelong dedication to women’s empowerment left an indelible mark.

In a statement, the party praised her for her tireless work through the 31st December Women’s Movement.

“As one of the founding pillars of the NDC, Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings played an instrumental role in shaping the ideals and identity of our great party.

"Despite the ebbs and flows that led to her founding another party, her place in the story of the NDC will always remain significant," the NDC remarked.

Tributes come in for Nana Konadu

YEN.com.gh also recently reported on tributes to the former First Lady that came in from various spheres of society.

Former President Akufo-Addo described Agyeman-Rawlings as a role model for women in Ghana and across Africa.

Likewise, former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said that she was a trailblazer for women’s empowerment.

Senior Presidential Aide to President Mahama, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, hailed Agyeman-Rawlings as 'exceptional'.

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Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh