By Ruth Serwaa Asare
President John Dramani Mahama has described the late Nana Konadu AgyemanRawlings as a trailblazer who set an unmatched record in Ghana’s political history, serving as First Lady for 19 solid years , a feat he says no one can ever break under the current constitutional system.
Speaking during a condolence visit to the residence of the late former First Lady, Prez Mahama said Nana Konadu’s passing came as a shock, recounting how he first heard the sad news through her daughter, Zanetor Rawlings.
“It was sudden. I saw her at the Asantehemaa’s funeral, and she was her lively self. There was nothing that could warn us that in a few weeks to come, she herself would be gone,” he said.
The President praised Mrs. Rawlings for dedicating her nearly two decades as First Lady to the empowerment of women, emphasizing the lasting impact of her work through the 31st December Women’s Movement.
“Nana Konadu set a record in this country , the longest serving First Lady, 19 solid years. And with the constitution we have, nobody can ever break that record. The maximum anybody will do is eight years,” he noted.
President Mahama highlighted how her legacy continues to shape communities across Ghana, citing enduring projects such as oil palm extraction and gari production ventures, which still provide livelihoods for women and their families.
“Even up to today, when you go around the country on the campaign trail, you see evidence of her work… Women are using those income generating facilities to improve themselves and their children,” he said.
He further assured the family of the government’s commitment to honour the memory of the late First Lady appropriately.
“On behalf of the people of Ghana and the government, I extend our condolences to the family. The state will give her the full honours she deserves as a former First Lady and mother of the nation,” he added.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, served as Ghana’s First Lady from 1981 to 2000 and was widely celebrated for her advocacy on women’s rights and social development.
