The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has paid a heartfelt tribute to the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, describing her as a national pillar whose courage and lifelong commitment to empowering women helped shape Ghana’s democracy.
Bagbin said Nana Konadu was far more than the spouse of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings. She was, he noted, a defining figure in the history of the National Democratic Congress and a bold voice in the struggle for social justice, women’s rights and national development.
Reflecting on their first encounters during the years of political revolution, Bagbin said the former First Lady lived the enduring words of her father that it takes a woman to build a family, a principle that guided both her public and private life. Her impact, he added, continues to echo through the lives of the many people she inspired.
Bagbin praised her as a woman of courage and conviction who stood firmly behind her husband in the early years of the NDC, while also carving her own path as a political leader whose name and legacy stood independently in Ghana’s national story.
He likened her strength and influence to that of Yaa Asantewaa, the legendary Ashanti queenmother, saying her memory will remain a powerful presence in Ghana’s collective history.
Nana Konadu, he said, championed the cause of women from market stalls to classrooms and community gatherings, using the 31st December Women’s Movement to give millions a voice and economic strength. Her advocacy, he noted, demanded that women be given space at every table where decisions about the nation are made.
Bagbin described her as a force of nature, a strategic thinker and an organiser whose determination helped shape Ghana’s democratic institutions. Even in moments of political disagreement, he said, her dedication to fairness and national progress was never in doubt.
The Speaker added that many members of the NDC rose through the ranks because of the foundation built by committed leaders like Nana Konadu, who consistently pushed the party to grow and to expand opportunities for women.
“Ghana has lost a mother,” Bagbin said, adding that the doors she opened will continue to guide generations of young girls who believe that leadership has no gender and that determination knows no limits.
He prayed for God’s comfort for her family, especially her children, and urged the nation never to forget her contributions. “Nana Konadu was a good woman,” he said. “Her labour is not in vain.”
