Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, describing her passing as a personal and national loss.

In a statement issued from Washington D.C. on Thursday, October 23, 2025, Mr Smith said he received the news of Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings’ death “with deep sadness,” adding that he had initially hoped the reports were inaccurate.

Recounting his close association with the late former First Lady, the diplomat revealed that she was instrumental in introducing him to active politics in the early 1990s.

“Upon my return from the United Kingdom in 1994, she offered me the opportunity and space to begin my journey in public service. I remain eternally grateful for the belief she had in my potential,” he said.

Ambassador Smith acknowledged that, like many meaningful relationships, theirs had its challenges but emphasized that he chooses to remember her for the “significant impact she made on me, on countless women she inspired, and on Ghana’s democratic progress.”

He extended his condolences to Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings’ children — Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina, and Kimathi, reaffirming his “hand of friendship and support during this painful moment.”

Describing the late former First Lady as a “bold, visionary, and courageous leader,” he said her legacy as a champion of women’s empowerment and a key actor in Ghana’s political history will endure for generations.

“Ghana has lost a bold, visionary, and courageous leader, a champion of women’s empowerment and a key actor in shaping our political history. Her legacy will stand tall for generations,” the statement concluded.