Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings: Profile of the Political Matriarch
The passing of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings on Thursday, October 23, closes a remarkable era in Ghana’s national story.
Fearless, visionary, and unbending in her convictions, she stood as one of the most influential women in Ghana’s political, social, and feminist movements — a towering figure whose presence reshaped the space for women in leadership.
About Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings
Born on November 17, 1948, in Cape Coast in Ghana’s Central Region, Nana Konadu’s academic journey began at Achimota School, where fate introduced her to Jerry John Rawlings, the young man who would later become her husband and Ghana’s head of state.
She furthered her studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), specialising in Art and Textiles, before advancing to the London College of Arts in 1975, where she obtained a diploma in Interior Design.
Her thirst for knowledge didn’t end there—she went on to acquire qualifications in Advanced Personnel Management and Development Studies from GIMPA, reflecting her lifelong commitment to education and leadership.
When she married Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings in 1977, her destiny became inseparable from Ghana’s evolving political landscape. She served as First Lady during two pivotal phases — first in 1979 under the AFRC, and again from 1981 to 2001, spanning the PNDC era and two consecutive Fourth Republic administrations. Her twenty-year tenure remains the longest in Ghana’s history, granting her an unmatched platform to influence national development.
In 1982, she founded the 31st December Women’s Movement (31st DWM) — an organisation that redefined the narrative of Ghanaian womanhood. Far beyond ceremonial advocacy, the movement mobilised millions of women nationwide, empowering them through education, entrepreneurship, and social reform.
Under her leadership, the 31st DWM established over 870 preschools, launched income-generating projects, and led literacy and public health campaigns that improved livelihoods across rural Ghana.
Her activism also brought legislative change. Nana Konadu was instrumental in the enactment of the Intestate Succession Law (PNDCL 111), which secured inheritance rights for widows and children. Her efforts contributed to Ghana becoming the first country in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1991—a testament to her advocacy for family welfare and child protection.
Nana Konadu’s political strength extended far beyond her role as First Lady. She was a key voice within the National Democratic Congress (NDC), serving as First Vice Chairperson in 2009. Her decision to challenge President John Atta Mills for the party’s presidential nomination in 2011 marked a historic moment of defiance — one that underscored her independence and political courage.
When ideological differences deepened, she charted her own path, founding the National Democratic Party (NDP). In 2016, she made history once again by becoming the first woman in Ghana to contest the presidency, breaking a centuries-old political barrier and inspiring women across the continent.
Although her bid garnered a small share of the votes, her campaign embodied the courage of a woman who refused to be confined by political convention.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was never merely the wife of a president — she was a force of her own making. Known affectionately and sometimes fearfully as the ‘Iron Lady’, she spoke with conviction, acted with resolve, and believed in the transformative potential of women to lead change.
Through her initiatives, advocacy, and unapologetic leadership, she left behind not just a memory, but a movement — one that redefined the role of women in Ghanaian politics and community life.
Her life was a study in resilience, intellect, and purpose — a testament that a single determined woman could challenge structures, rewrite norms, and leave behind a legacy larger than any title she ever held.
Story by Adwoa S. Danso
