Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings leaves lasting legacy

The passing away of the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, on Thursday, October 23, has brought to an end the remarkable story of a woman who turned her opportunity into redefining the face of advocacy, women’s empowerment and women’s involvement in politics, footprints that have cemented her legacy in the history of Ghana.

Her voice, which for years spoke for the voiceless, may have been silenced forever, but it will continue to echo across the country.

Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings did not only become a Mother of the nation when the Fourth Republic was established in 1992, but she would go on to crack the glass ceiling when, in 2012, she challenged the status quo, becoming the first woman to form a political party and contest the presidential election.

Rising to prominence as the First Lady after her late husband, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, became the head of state, she turned the opportunity handed to her into an initiative that would set her on a trailblazing journey, which would also etch her name in the history of Ghana.

For 19 years through the years of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), which brought former President Rawlings to power in 1981, through to the end of his two-term tenure as a duly elected President in 2001, she became the mother figure of the nation, a role she dutifully played and for which history has placed on her, the privilege of being the longest-serving First Lady.

From the opportunity she had, she gave purpose to the role and title, which hitherto was limited to often dutifully showing up for public and state functions.

Beyond that, she became the voice of the voiceless and marginalised women, and through her 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM), she led the empowerment of women step by step, with initiatives that would help make vulnerable women rise in value by engaging in economic ventures that would bring them financial independence.

Her vision of ensuring that mothers went about their activities and were not bogged down by taking care of their young children culminated in the creation of the DWM Day Care Centres in many markets across the country and in rural communities where education was not easily accessible.

That initiative did not only offer support to the mothers to have time to go about their businesses, but it also laid the foundation for the future generation, as many of the children who were enrolled in those centres got a chance to be educated.

In 1995, when Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings led Ghana’s delegation to the International Conference on Women in Bejing, she was not a mere participant, but played a key role in framing the key thematic points that would shape the UN’s plan for women’s empowerment, equal human rights, elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against women and the girl-child, and economic independence, among others.

She ensured that the UN Beijing Declaration did not remain a document, but, as much as she could, ensured its implementation.

Aside from the empowerment, Mrs Rawlings led the advocacy for the enactment of the PNDC Law 111 or the Interstate Succession Law that provided reprieve and hope for spouses, particularly wives and children whose husbands and fathers passed away without a will.

When President Rawlings’ tenure ended, and he exited public life, she remained politically active and challenged President J.E.A. Mills in 2011 for the NDC presidential candidacy.

She lost the election, and her passion drove her to form a rival party, the National Democratic Party (NDP), which contested the 2012 presidential election, with her on the ballot as the candidate.

Though she did not succeed with her political ambition, she yet again charted a path for many more women to get into politics.

Beyond her generation, she has also raised another formidable politician, her first daughter, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, who is serving a third term as MP for the Klottey Korle Constituency.

Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings has duly paid her dues in service to her country, and the Daily Graphic joins the government and the nation in mourning her demise.

Importantly, the paper celebrates the impact she has made and the footprints she has left in the sands of history.

As we bid farewell to this remarkable woman, we take solace in the knowledge that her legacy will live on.

She will be remembered for her courage, her compassion, and her unwavering commitment to people.

We will miss her dearly, but her impact will be felt for generations to come.

In her honour, we must continue to strive for a society where women and girls have equal opportunities to succeed.

We must work towards creating a world where women's rights are respected and protected.

Let us draw inspiration from Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings' life and work, and continue to push for a brighter future for everyone.