The mournful cry of a lone Atenteben flute swept across the Black Star Square yesterday, weaving through a nation bound together in grief, as hundreds gathered to bid a solemn farewell to former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
Under the vast, grey-hued sky, a gathering of the nation’s most eminent figures, traditional leaders, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, the clergy, and grieving citizens converged for a state funeral to honour the life and legacy of the woman widely revered as a pillar of the 31st December Revolution and a tireless advocate for women’s empowerment.
President John Dramani Mahama, the focal point of the national mourning, led the government in paying its final respects.
He was a picture of solemnity, accompanied by his wife, Lordina Dramani Mahama, who offered a quiet, supportive presence.
The presidential entourage set the tone for a ceremony that was as grand in its attendance as it was intimate in its grief.
Historic venue
The square, a historic venue that has witnessed many of the nation’s pivotal moments, was a sea of black and red, reflecting the colours of mourning.
The air was thick with emotion as the casket, draped in the national colours, lay in state.
Amid the grandeur of the state ceremony, it was a quiet, intimate moment standing by the casket that captured the profound personal loss at the heart of the national mourning.
The children of the late former First Lady, namely Zanetor, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina and Kimathi, stood as a united pillar of strength, their unwavering composure belying the weight of their grief.
They were joined by the next generation, the deceased’s grandchildren, whose presence was a poignant reminder of the legacy she leaves behind.
In a gesture that spoke volumes, the grandchildren gently placed their hands on the flag-draped casket, a final, tender touch to the matriarch who had shaped their world.
The sight of the Rawlingses, stewarding their mother on her final journey with a mix of solemn dignity and palpable sorrow, offered a powerful, humanising glimpse into the family’s farewell, reminding all that the nation was mourning not just an icon, but a mother and a grandmother.
United in grief
In a demonstration of bipartisan respect and the enduring impact of the late former First Lady, the event brought together a rare assembly of the nation’s political elite.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and the Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, were present.
Former President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, accompanied by his wife, Rebecca, were also in attendance.
Their presence, alongside former Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and his wife, Samira Bawumia, painted a vivid picture of a nation setting aside political differences to honour a common legacy.
The international community also paid its dues.
They included former President of Liberia, Ellen Eugenia Johnson Sirleaf; former First Lady of Côte d'Ivoire, Simone Gbagbo, and the First Lady of Liberia, Kartumu Yarta Boakai.
The rich tapestry of Ghanaian tradition was fully displayed. The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, was represented by the Asante Akyem Domeabrahene, Baffour Owusu Bediako, and an entourage of Asante chiefs.
They were joined by a host of other traditional leaders from across the country in their colourful regalia and solemn staffs, a stark contrast to the military precision of the state ceremony.
Burial service
The formal burial service, which commenced at 9:00 a.m., was a rich tapestry of solemnity and celebration, binding the sacred and the secular together.
The mournful, piercing sound of the “Atenteben” flute provided a uniquely Ghanaian moment of reflection, while the Mass Choir and National Symphony Orchestra elevated the ceremony with stirring renditions.
As tributes were read, the narrative that emerged was one of a fearless, compassionate, and transformative leader.
The overarching theme celebrated Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings not just as the wife of former President Jerry John Rawlings, but as a formidable force in her own right, the Founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement and a former presidential candidate who reshaped the role of women in Ghanaian politics.
Tributes
President Mahama, in a tribute read on his behalf by his Special Aide, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, eulogised Nana Konadu as a "towering national figure" whose influence and contributions would "continue to resonate for generations".
President Mahama said Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings was not merely a former First Lady, but a "pioneering leader" and an "unwavering champion of women's empowerment" who lived a life defined by "goodness and boldness to speak, to challenge, to lead".
Highlighting Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings’ transformative impact, President Mahama said she "redefined the role of First Lady and transformed it into a platform for national development".
He specifically pointed to her leadership of the 31st December Women's Movement, through which she "expanded opportunities for women and girls, especially in rural communities".
Her work, he said, "laid the groundwork for many of the gender-sensitive policies and social interventions that Ghana benefits from today".
Beyond her public persona, the President’s tribute also painted a picture of a devoted family woman.
President Mahama’s tribute described her as a "warm, engaging, humorous woman" whose determined public image belied a person who was "fiercely protective of her community".
He concluded by honouring her "memory" on behalf of his family, the National Democratic Congress, and a "grateful nation", celebrating "a life richly lived, a life of leadership, advocacy, service, and unbroken purpose".
Children’s tribute
Her children in tributes written separately, extolled her courage, strength, love and leadership of their mother.
“To me, you were much more than a mother; you were my moral compass, my fashion icon, my anchor in turbulent times, my historian, and my dancing queen,” Zanetor said.
Yaa Asantewaa called her mother “a woman so rare, so daring”, and described her as “An unsubdued spirit, placed here to be the women's rallying cry.”
Amina said her mother had the consummate life of a tireless patriot: “a woman who loved her country and celebrated it every opportunity you got”.
She recounted how she championed a cause that most knew and were victims of, but none would dare to tackle - the unfortunate plight of widows.
“You fought and ensured that your advocacy did not remain just that, but went further to ensure that the PNDC Laws and subsequently our Fourth Republican Constitution codified the protection of women and children.”
Kimathi minced no words recalling how his father, J. J. Rawlings, trusted her completely because she had an unfailing ability to perceive purpose and possibility.
“She was far more than a right hand. She was strategic, clear-minded and unwavering.
She and my father were, in truth, one another's steadiness.
They were better together. And we were fortunate, not only as her children. but as Ghanaians, to witness such a partnership that helped shape the nation.”
Final leg
The closing act of the service was a symphony of state protocol and military precision, layered with profound farewell gestures.
Following a sermon by the Most Rev. Titus Awotwi Pratt, a former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, and final prayers, the ceremony moved to the laying of wreaths, a symbolic gesture of honour from the President, Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings’ children, the family, the Asantehene, and the political institutions she built.
As the closing hymn faded, the Ghana Armed Forces, with flawless and solemn decorum, stepped forward to lift the casket.
This final, dignified act by the military signified the nation taking custody of its departed icon, escorting her on the last leg of her journey from the public square to her final resting place at the Military Cemetery.
Biography
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was a distinguished Ghanaian stateswoman, a dedicated advocate for women's empowerment, and a former First Lady of Ghana.
Born on November 17, 1948, into the Ashanti royal family, she was a granddaughter of the 11th Asantehene, Otumfuo Mensah Bonsu.
Her early life was shaped by a strong educational foundation laid by her parents, particularly her mother, the educationist Felicia Agyeman.
She was educated at prestigious institutions, including the Ghana International School and Achimota School, where she first met the future President, Jerry John Rawlings.
As First Lady from 1982, during a challenging period in Ghana's history, she transcended the traditional role to become a prominent activist.
She was the Founder and President of the 31st December Women's Movement, an organisation instrumental in championing women's rights, political participation, and economic empowerment.
Her famous assertion that "pregnancy is not an illness" encapsulated her unwavering commitment to working in rural communities, often while expecting her own children.
A devoted mother to her children, she balanced her public duties with a disciplined and loving family life, instilling in them the values of patriotism, humility and service.
In a historic address to the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995, she powerfully articulated her lifelong mission: "For us in Africa, the girl child is a special concern...
We must give her an education that empowers; an education that gives skills; and an education that builds self-confidence".
This conviction defined her legacy as a transformative figure who dedicated her life to salvaging the future of Ghana's women and children.
