Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has paid tribute to the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

The statesman described her as an indispensable figure in Ghana’s history whose contributions to national development and women’s empowerment will remain enduring.

“You cannot write Ghana’s history without her name in it. She contributed significantly to the making of Ghana, and her name will forever be etched in granite in our history. So please, do not be sad. The whole of Ghana, and indeed the world, mourns her loss.”

He said this during a visit to the Rawlings residence in Accra on Friday, October 24, to commiserate with the family, Mr. Kufuor

Nana Konadu, wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, passed away on Thursday, October 23, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra at the age of 76.

She was Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady and a leading champion of women’s rights and social justice, best known for her leadership of the 31st December Women’s Movement, which transformed the lives of countless women across the country.

Former President Kufuor also lauded the late former First Lady’s dedication to public service and her pivotal role in shaping Ghana’s modern history.

He recalled an encounter with Nana Konadu shortly before her passing.

“I am truly surprised because on Wednesday, I went to church late. When I got there, she was already seated, and my friend was sitting beside her. During the offertory, she came to ask me how I was doing, and I told her I was fine; there was nothing to suggest she was unwell.

“Yesterday, around 10 a.m., I had some visitors, and one of them asked if I had heard what had happened, that Nana Konadu had passed away. I asked how that was possible, because I had seen her yesterday. But God knows best, and I have come to commiserate with you.”

Her passing has elicited condolences from across Ghana. The Acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, in a statement on October 24, 2025, described her as a woman of “remarkable vision, courage, and conviction,” whose life and work left an enduring mark on Ghana’s social and political landscape.

He emphasised her tireless advocacy for gender equality and social justice, noting that her influence would continue to resonate with the countless Ghanaians whose lives she touched.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course, as the nation continues to mourn the loss of a stateswoman whose contributions helped shape modern Ghana.