A somber atmosphere is expected to envelop the Black Star Square today, November 28, as thousands gather to bid a final farewell to Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
Preparations at the Square were finalized on Thursday, November 27, with security personnel and State protocol officers working meticulously to ensure a ceremony befitting her towering national legacy and royal heritage.
State officials, political leaders, diplomats, parliamentarians, traditional authorities, gender advocates, clergy, and mourners from across the country are expected to be present at the State Funeral, which begins at 8 a.m.
A solemn Requiem Mass held on Wednesday, November 26, at the Accra Ridge Church set the tone for the final rites. Tributes and prayers reflected the profound imprint Nana Konadu left on national life.
Her family has expressed deep gratitude to Ghanaians for the overwhelming support shown since her passing on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
Founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement, Nana Konadu is remembered as a transformative figure whose bold activism and unwavering advocacy reshaped Ghana’s gender and social development landscape. Public tributes have celebrated her as “a national treasure,” “an indomitable spirit,” and “a beacon of women’s empowerment.” Among them was a message from Switzerland’s Ambassador to Ghana, Simone Giger, who praised her “determination and dedication to women’s rights.”
Beyond public service, she was admired for her vibrant love for fashion, music, dance, and the creative arts. Her elegance and confidence made her an enduring emblem of cultural pride.
Born on November 17, 1948, in Cape Coast to J.O.T. Agyeman and Felicia Agyeman, Nana Konadu grew up in a home shaped by discipline, ambition, and strong leadership values.
She attended Achimota School before studying Arts with a focus on Textile Design at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where she served as Deputy SRC Secretary and later SRC Secretary. She also played an active role in the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS).
Her academic journey further included a Diploma in Interior Design from the London College of Arts; a Diploma in Advanced Personnel Management from the Management Development and Productivity Institute in 1979; a Certificate in Development from GIMPA in 1991; and a Senior Fellow Diploma in Policy Studies and Non-Profit Sector Economic Development from Johns Hopkins University in 1994.
Nana Konadu worked with the Union Trading Company from 1974 to 1980 before joining Nanali Africarts, where she served until 1984. During this period, she founded the 31st December Women’s Movement, which went on to redefine women’s empowerment across the nation.
In 1977, she married Jerry John Rawlings, then an Air Force officer who would later become Head of State and President. Their marriage blessed with four children: Zanetor, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina, and Kimathi became a partnership that helped shape Ghana’s political history and advance the cause of gender equality.
As Ghana gathers today to honour her memory, the silence at Black Star Square will echo the nation’s collective respect for a woman whose influence transcended generations.
