The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection has paid tribute to the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, describing her as a visionary leader whose lifelong dedication transformed the lives of women and children in Ghana.

In a statement issued on Friday, October 24, the Ministry said Nana Konadu will be “fondly remembered for her lifelong dedication to advancing the rights and well-being of women and children in Ghana.”

According to the statement, the former First Lady’s “visionary leadership and commitment to social progress greatly influenced national development and inspired many to pursue equality and empowerment for all.”

The Ministry highlighted her work as Founder and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement, through which she “championed literacy, vocational training, and income-generating programmes that empowered millions of women across the country.” Her leadership, it added, also led to “the establishment of hundreds of preschools and child development centres, providing early education and care for countless Ghanaian children.”

Expressing its condolences, the Ministry stated, “We extend our heartfelt condolences to her children, family, and all who were touched by her exemplary life and work.”

The tribute further noted that Nana Konadu’s influence reached beyond Ghana’s borders. It recalled her participation in the 1995 Beijing Conference on Women, where “she stood as a powerful voice for gender equality and the inclusion of women in national development.”

It also recognised her pivotal role in Ghana’s early ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1991, describing it as “an initiative that continues to guide the Ministry’s mission today.”

The Ministry celebrated her as “a visionary, courageous, and compassionate leader whose dedication laid the foundation for progress in women’s empowerment, children’s welfare, and social protection in Ghana.”