Ghana held a burial service for the former First Lady, Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings.

The event, which began around 7:30 am on the morning of Friday, November 28, at Independence Square, Accra, drew dignitaries from far and near.

The funeral service commenced with the arrival of dignitaries, clergy, and the diplomatic corps. Tributes were delivered by members of the family, the current President, John Dramani Mahama, among other officials who were in attendance.

As tributes were being read, officials, envoys, and politicians were acknowledged and allowed to file past the former First Lady’s national flag-draped casket, which had been set under a canopy in the middle of the funeral grounds.

The National Democratic Party (NDP), in its tribute to their founder, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, described her as a “guiding light” who played a pivotal role in shaping the party’s vision and principles.

According to a tribute by the party, the former stateswoman was full of confidence and consistently played her leadership role with dedication and clarity. The tribune further added that Nana Konadu “gave rise to a new era of female participation in politics and governance”.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) described her as a “torchbearer of empowerment and justice” whose legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

Her grandchildren also praised her as a “Grandma who never stopped believing in us”, calling her their hero and one who never stopped giving, even when the world left her tired.

In the tribute of President Mahama, which was delivered through his aide, Joyce Mogtari, he described her as a woman who was never afraid to stand alone when her conscience called her to do so.

Following the laying of a wreath, the Ghana Armed Forces performed ceremonial honours and transported her remains to the Military Cemetery for burial.

Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings was confirmed dead by the Presidency in a press statement on Thursday, October 23. She passed away at the age of 76.

The cause of her death is yet to be made known. However, reports suggested that she died at the Ridge Hospital in Accra in the early hours of Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Rawlings family and government representatives have yet to issue an official statement regarding her passing at the time of this report.

Born on November 17, 1948, in Cape Coast to the late J.O.T. Agyeman and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings served as the First Lady of Ghana from June 4, 1979, to September 24, 1979, during the presidency of Jerry John Rawlings.

She held the same position again from December 31, 1981, to January 7, 2001. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design at the University of Science and Technology (now KNUST), after specialising in Textiles. She furthered her education at the London College of Arts, where she obtained a Diploma in Interior Design.

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings did not stop there; she went on to pursue a Diploma in Advanced Personnel Management from Ghana’s Management Development and Productivity Institute in 1979. At GIMPA, she received a Certificate in Development.

She later attended Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, USA, where she pursued a Senior Fellow Diploma in Policy Studies. Before her involvement in politics and social activism, she worked with the Ghana Tourist Board and the Union Trading Company (UTC) in Accra, as well as with several other organisations.

As a formidable advocate for women’s rights and social justice, she founded the 31st December Women’s Movement in 1982. The influential non-governmental movement aimed at promoting women’s education, economic empowerment, and legal reforms.

Through Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings’ efforts, the Intestate Succession Law (PNDCL 111) was enacted to protect the inheritance rights of widows and children.

In Ghanaian politics, she is recognised as the founder of the National Democratic Party (NDP), through which she ran for president in 2016. She was succeeded by Mohammed Frimpong, who led the party after she stepped down in 2024.

She parted ways with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2012, following her defeat to the late President John Atta Mills in the party’s 2011 flagbearer race. She was elected as the NDC’s First Vice Chairperson in 2009.

In 2018, she launched her book titled It Takes a Woman, which captures her journey in politics and advocacy. Scores of Ghanaians have poured in with their tributes following her passing.

Recently, she was seen at the Forecourt of the Jubilee House to honour the eight public servants who passed away following the helicopter crash that occurred on August 6 at Adansi in the Ashanti Region. She was also spotted during the Dote Yie funeral rites for the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III.

Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings got married to the late Jerry John Rawlings in 1977 after they both met at Achimota School. The couple had four children — three daughters and one son.

Their children include Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, a medical doctor and Member of Parliament for the Klottey Korle Constituency; Kimathi Rawlings; Yaa Asantewaa Rawlings; and Amina Rawlings. Unfortunately, Jerry John Rawlings passed away in November 2020 at the age of 73.

He was confirmed dead after a short illness at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Mrs Nana Konadu Rawlings’ death comes at a time when the country is still recovering from the loss of eight victims in the tragic military helicopter crash.

The deceased included Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator in charge of Human Security, Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed; Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Samuel Sarpong; and Deputy Director-General of NADMO, Samuel Aboagye.

Others included Squadron Leader Peter Analaa of the Ghana Air Force, Flying Officer Tsum Ampadu of the Ghana Air Force, and Sergeant Ernest Addo of the Ghana Air Force.

Meanwhile, investigations into the Z-9 helicopter crash have officially begun following the establishment of an investigative board, as announced by the Ministry of Defence.

The board is chaired by the National Security Coordinator, with members drawn from the Ghana Air Force and the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).

President John Mahama earlier disclosed that the flight data and cockpit voice recorders of the Z-9 Air Force helicopter had been retrieved. He made this announcement during his national address on Thursday, August 7, a day after the incident.

In the United States, the authority responsible for investigating aircraft accidents is the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The NTSB is an independent federal agency mandated by Congress to investigate every civil aviation accident in the U.S. as well as significant incidents in other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space.

Since its establishment in 1967, the NTSB has investigated more than 153,000 aviation accidents and thousands of surface transportation events. Its mission is to determine probable causes, examine safety issues, and develop recommendations to prevent similar accidents in the future.

To date, the Board has issued more than 15,500 safety recommendations to over 2,470 recipients, with an implementation rate of 82 percent for the more than 12,700 recommendations that have been closed.

In Ghana, the Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB) is responsible for investigating plane crashes. On July 6, 2020, former President Nana Akufo-Addo granted executive approval for the laying before Parliament of the Aircraft Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau Bill, 2020.

The bill sought to establish an autonomous Bureau to conduct investigations into aircraft accidents and incidents in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).