TRIBUTE BY RT HON ALBAN SUMANA KINGSFORD BAGBIN, TO THE MEMORY OF NANA KONADU AGYEMAN-RAWLINGS

TRIBUTE BY RT HON ALBAN SUMANA KINGSFORD BAGBIN, TO THE MEMORY OF NANA KONADU AGYEMAN-RAWLINGS

Her Excellency Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was not just the wife of the Founder of the great National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the Fourth Republic, the late Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, or, the most vibrant and remarkable former First Lady of Ghana. She was a mother in many respects and a towering emblem of women empowerment in this country, regardless of political biases or ethnic lines.

As I reflect on her life, having first met her in the revolution days, I can confidently say that she surely lived the advice of her father, “it takes a woman, to build a family,” the title of her book. She has left behind her a trail of testimonies from people who were inspired by her works and her life in particular.

I celebrate her for her bold persona and her dedication to what is right, even to the very end. She was there from the very beginning of the story of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), standing firm behind her husband and ensuring that she guided him to success, even when others did not believe it was possible. And at the same time, the late Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings knew she did not only need to stay relevant as a woman, but to leave an imprint in the annals of Ghana’s history that there was a woman whose name and legacies were not necessarily tied to another personality.

Today, as all these men and women have gathered with heavy hearts, yet with deep gratitude in reflecting on the remarkable life of a woman whose memories are akin to the ferocity of the great Ashanti Queenmother, Yaa Asantewaa, I have no doubts that her life will remain a loud echo in the history of this nation, far beyond the years. She was, truly, not only a spousal support but a person of strategic vision, organizational strength, and a clear belief that social justice included gender justice. She lived her politics, and she lived her convictions.

Nana was a force of nature, a present reminder of courage, uncommon purpose, and conviction. I dare say that without her, Ghana’s democracy may never have become the shining example it is today. She stood for this nation at every stage and she worked fiercely to ensure her contributions rewrote old narratives that did not place women at its very core, insisting that Ghanaian women deserved visibility, opportunity, and power. Through the 31st December Women’s Movement and her tireless advocacy, she stood as a champion for millions of women — in our markets, in our communities, in our schools — helping them find their voices and strengthen their economic independence.

Today, many of us who rose through the ranks of the NDC did so on the shoulders of committed leaders who gave everything to shape the party’s identity and its service to Ghana. Nana Konadu stood firmly among those pillars. Her passion pushed us to think differently. Her advocacy demanded that we make room for women at every table of decision-making. And her consistency reminded us that leadership is not only what one does in office, but what one continues to do long after the applause has faded.

Even in disagreements, one could never doubt her sincerity and her enduring dedication to the development of Ghana and the dignity of its people. She was a woman who believed deeply — and fought deeply — for what she thought was right.

I salute her legacy and her dedication to fairness that shaped her life. Ghana has lost a mother, but generations of women will continue to walk through the doors she opened. Her story will encourage young girls from every corner of this country to believe that leadership has no gender, and that determination knows no limits.

It is my prayer that the good Lord will grant her spirit eternal and a peaceful rest. I pray too for her family; especially her children who I have known for a long time, to find comfort in the profound mark she has left on our nation. Nana Konadu was a good woman and I pray this is never forgetton.

Fare thee well, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. Your labor is not in vain.