The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has described the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, as a transformative national figure whose work “changed the course of our nation.”

He delivered the tribute on behalf of the NDC at her state funeral held on Friday, November 28, 2025, at Independence Square in Accra.

Kwetey said the former First Lady was “boldness personified,” noting that her leadership reshaped Ghana’s political and social landscape, particularly through her advocacy for women and vulnerable groups.

“She was the very heartbeat of a movement that reshaped Ghana’s political, social and democratic landscape,” he said. “The history of the NDC cannot be told without her name spoken boldly and with honour.”

He highlighted her early work with the Ghana Trade Board and the Union Trading Company, where she developed a deep connection to the struggles of ordinary women. According to him, these encounters formed the foundation of her lifelong commitment to justice, equality and opportunity.

A major part of his tribute focused on the 31st December Women’s Movement, which he described as “one of the boldest acts of leadership in our national history.” Under Nana Konadu’s leadership, the movement established more than 870 early childhood centres nationwide, providing educational foundations for thousands of children.

Kwetey noted that her advocacy also extended to legal and economic empowerment, referencing her role in the passage of PNDC Law 111, the interstate succession law widely associated with her name. The law protects widows’ rights and prevents them from losing their homes and property after the death of a spouse.

He also recounted her representation of Ghana at the landmark 1995 Beijing Conference, where she championed the rights of the African girl child on the global stage.

According to the NDC General Secretary, Nana Konadu was not only a central figure in the PNDC era but also a foundational pillar of the NDC. He emphasized that she was instrumental in organising women, shaping party structures and strengthening its grassroots base.

Her election in 2009 as First Vice Chairperson of the NDC, he said, was recognition of her role as “a founding mother of the party.” He also referenced her historic bid for the presidency, describing it as a testament to her courage and belief that “leadership is not a man’s birthright.”

“As we mourn, we also celebrate a woman who lived with intention, who spoke her truth without fear, and who served this country with unwavering conviction,” he added.

The state funeral brought together national leaders, diplomats, political figures and members of the public to honour a woman widely regarded as one of Ghana’s most influential voices in women’s empowerment and democratic activism.