Yesterday, Friday, November 28, former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings was laid to rest following a solemn state funeral at Accra’s Black Star Square, where thousands of mourners and national dignitaries gathered to pay their last respects.
A rare gathering of Ghana’s political elite attended the event.
Former President John Dramani Mahama and former First Lady Lordina Mahama, former Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife Samira Bawumia, former President John Agyekum-Kufour, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and his wife Rebecca Akufo-Addo were among those in attendance.
Attendees included members of Parliament’s Majority and Minority caucuses, national political party leaders, statesmen, chiefs, clergy, and representatives of civil society organizations.
The Aboatia Family of Mpobi, including her children, grandchildren, relatives, and close friends, gave a number of tributes. Her strength, compassion, and discipline molded generations, according to the family.
They recalled her function as a unifying force and a source of moral direction, saying, “She carried the family’s honor with dignity.”
Her contributions to women’s empowerment and the advancement of gender rights throughout Ghana were recognized by the 31st December Women’s Movement.
Her groundbreaking efforts to advance social justice and bolster grassroots political mobilization were commended by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Her founding organization, the National Democratic Party (NDP), referred to her as the party’s “guiding light,” emphasizing that the party’s character is still fundamentally shaped by her moral fortitude, intellectual clarity, and lifetime support of the poor.
Tributes detailing her leadership and impact throughout her early years were also given by a number of organizations, including the OAA 1966/67 Year Group.
As mourners considered her decades of contribution to the advancement of the country, the funeral was highlighted by hymns, prayers, and customary rituals.
The procession proceeded from Black Star Square to the Chardo Military Cemetery, where Nana Konadu was buried, following the performance of the last honors.
She was laid to rest close to the grave of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, a symbolic position that highlights her importance as one of Ghana’s most illustrious public personalities.
The national farewell comes after a requiem liturgy at the Accra Ridge Church on Wednesday, during which dignitaries, family, and friends gave tributes that highlighted the extent of her commitment to Ghana’s social and political advancement.
Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady was Nana Konadu, the late former president Jerry John Rawlings’ wife, who served in both her husband’s military and civilian administrations.
She was a member of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) from June 4, 1979, to September 24, 1979, and the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) from December 31, 1981, to January 6, 1993.
From January 7, 1993, to January 6, 2001, she remained in the position during her husband’s two constitutional mandates.
Nana Konadu was a trailblazer in women’s political action and empowerment outside of her position as First Lady. She founded the National Democratic Party (NDP) and the 31st December Women’s Movement.
She left the NDC in June 2012 and started the National Democratic Party (NDP).
She and eleven other presidential candidates were subsequently disqualified by the Electoral Commission (EC) for not meeting the standards prior to the September 30 deadline for filing candidacy forms.
In 2016, she ran once more on the NDP ticket.
Her influence went beyond activism and politics. She became a lasting symbol of confidence and cultural expression thanks to her unique sense of style, passion for the arts, and lively personality.
Source: newsthemegh.com