Former First Lady and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was on Tuesday conferred with an Honorary Emeritus Fellowship by the Boardroom Institute of the Graduate School of Governance and Leadership at a grand ceremony at the National Theatre. Nana Konadu was awarded for championing Gender Governance and serving as an inspiration to women across the country. Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori II also received a similar award with 12 other enterprising leaders receiving Honorary Fellowships of the Institute. An enthusiastic audience cheered Mrs. Rawlings who was accompanied by her husband and former President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and her two daughters, Yaa Asantewaa and Amina. Accepting her award, Nana Konadu said the journey of women’s empowerment was far from over. “Many sectors of our society still relegate women to the background, regarding them as second-rate citizens. I have always known that until women become an absolute part of national development both in quality and quantity, our country Ghana will not be what it can be.” She said society needs to progress to a stage where the issue of male/female divide will be a blur and will not factor in decision-making. Visit our photo gallery for photos from the event. “Leadership, the former First Lady said, “is about capacity, competence, ability to perform and analyse results. More importantly, leadership is about inspiring others to pick up that mantle to in turn lead future generations. I humbly use this medium to call on all sectors of our society to believe in the leadership abilities and capabilities of women.” Nana Konadu was full of praise for her family who she said had served as advisors and critics. She also praised members of the 31st December Women’s Movement who she said had worked hard to break the cycle of poverty. The Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey who was Chairman of the occasion challenged the private sector to support the building of strong institutions and consolidate Ghana’s democracy by investing in the memoirs of leaders. Guest Speaker, Dr. Kwesi Jonah, Senior Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana lamented the huge gap between the development of democratic institutions in Ghana and that of private sector development. He said while our democracy was becoming the envy of many across the continent, private sector development could not boast same and called for a conscious effort to ensure that private sector developed at a fast pace to enhance national development.