PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar)
With solemn respect and heartfelt sorrow, we stand with the people of Ghana, with the Rawlings family, and with all Africans whose lives were touched by the extraordinary legacy of Her Excellency Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. Her passing marks not only the departure of a former First Lady but also the transition of a woman whose presence redefined service, transformed communities, and left an imprint on the very trajectory of African social and political progress.
As Ghana grants her the honour of a state funeral, our reflections extend far beyond her role as the lifelong companion and steadfast ally of President Jerry John Rawlings. Though she walked beside him through national transformation, Nana Konadu built her own monumental path—one rooted in conviction, dignity, and a steadfast commitment to justice. She was a woman of profound agency: a reformer, a builder of institutions, and an unyielding advocate for those whose voices too often go unheard.
Her pioneering leadership through the 31st December Women’s Movement reshaped community development across Ghana. Under her guidance, literacy programmes, economic cooperatives, and training initiatives uplifted women, strengthened families, and influenced national policies. Her advocacy helped usher in reforms that protected children, secured inheritance rights for women, and reinforced the foundation of Ghana’s social framework. She embodied resilience, intelligence, and principle—qualities that resonated across generations and borders.
To the Rawlings family, her children, grandchildren, and all who loved her, we offer our deepest sympathies. Your loss is profound, yet you are not alone. Ghana mourns with you. Africa mourns with you. The world recognises that a matriarch has joined the ancestors; a stateswoman has departed; an unwavering voice for justice has fallen silent, but her influence endures.
May she rest in eternal peace alongside her beloved husband.
May her life continue to inspire those who labour for justice, equality, and the empowerment of all.
May Ghana take comfort in the honour she brought to the nation and in the seeds of transformation she so generously planted.
A pan-African vision rooted in action
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was not merely a Ghanaian icon; she was a continental force whose work embodied the essence of Pan-Africanism. Her philosophy was grounded in practical activism, not abstraction. She believed in African solutions to African challenges, in unity grounded in shared purpose, and in the essential role of women as catalysts of transformation.
Her Pan-African legacy radiates through several key dimensions:
A continental vanguard for women’s empowerment
Through the 31st December Women’s Movement, she built one of the most influential women-led grassroots institutions in Africa. Its programmes spanning literacy, economic self-sufficiency, and skills development became templates for gender advocacy across the continent. Civil society groups and governments alike sought her insights when crafting gender-responsive policies. She helped redefine women’s empowerment as a cornerstone of Africa’s development.
A voice for Africa on global platforms
Representing Ghana and the continent at major international gatherings from UN women’s conferences to AU forums, she championed child welfare, gender equality, and poverty reduction. Her interventions strengthened Africa’s collective negotiating power and asserted the need for African-led strategies to shape global development agendas.
A catalyst for legal and social reform
Her activism was instrumental in advancing reforms that enhanced the rights of women and children in Ghana. These landmark policies later informed AU frameworks and inspired reforms across multiple African states, helping align continental protections around dignity, inheritance, and social justice.
An inspiration for women in political leadership
By becoming the first woman to contest the presidency in Ghana, she carved a bold path for African women in politics. Her courage energised women’s political coalitions, leadership networks, and gender-justice movements across the continent. She represented the belief that women must not only participate in governance but also shape its direction.
A quiet architect of pan-African diplomacy
In harmony with President Rawlings’ own Pan-African ideals, Nana Konadu strengthened regional unity, supported liberation efforts, and engaged discreetly in diplomatic efforts that advanced African cooperation. Many leaders regarded her as a stabilising and influential presence in continental affairs.
A cultural and ideological pan – Africanist
Her writings, speeches, and especially her memoir, It Takes a Woman, champion an Africa rooted in cultural identity, economic independence, and sovereignty over its narrative and destiny. She consistently urged Africans to believe in themselves, invest in themselves, and define their futures with confidence.
Her enduring legacy
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings enriched the Pan-African movement through action, conviction, and an unwavering belief in Africa’s potential. She expanded the horizons of women’s leadership, strengthened the foundations of social justice, and contributed to a political legacy that bridged national progress with continental vision.
Her memory stands as a testament to courage.
Her work remains a blueprint for empowerment.
Her life is a reminder that transformative leaders do not simply witness history; they shape it.
Farewell, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
Your light remains with us. Your legacy lives on in the hearts and actions of all who continue the work of building a just, united, and dignified Africa. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of our employers or this newspaper but are solely our personal views as citizens and Pan-Africanists.
