“You Can’t Tell NDC’s Story Without Nana Konadu” — Kofi Adams Pays Tribute to Late Former First Lady

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Kofi Adams, has stated that the late Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings remains an inseparable part of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) story, despite her eventual breakaway from the party to form the National Democratic Party (NDP).

Mr. Adams described the former First Lady as a central architect of the NDC’s foundation and growth, noting that her activism and leadership helped define the party’s early years.

“President Rawlings was the founding father, but Nana Konadu, if there’s anything to say, was the one who carried and birthed that party,” Mr. Adams remarked. “You can’t write the history of the NDC and leave out Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings — then you haven’t told the NDC’s story.”

A Foundational Figure in NDC’s Journey

Mr. Adams, who also served as a long-time aide to the Rawlings family, said Nana Konadu’s contributions were pivotal to building the NDC’s identity as a social democratic party. He explained that her work through the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM) mobilised millions of women and youth, laying the grassroots foundation that sustained the NDC during its early years in power.

He credited her strong organisational skills and advocacy for women’s empowerment as major forces behind the NDC’s enduring popularity among women and rural communities.

“There are people who joined and have remained in the NDC because they believed the party was birthed by her,” Mr. Adams said. “Even in my constituency, Buem, there are women who were drawn into politics through the 31st December Women’s Movement and through Nana Konadu’s leadership.”

Although Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings later parted ways with the NDC in 2012 to establish the National Democratic Party (NDP), her impact within the NDC has remained profound.

Mr. Adams acknowledged that while political disagreements led to her departure, her ideals and influence continued to shape the mindset and motivation of many within the NDC.

“Even today, there are members and sympathisers working tirelessly for the NDC because of her influence,” he noted, emphasising that her legacy transcends party lines.

Her bold decision to contest as Ghana’s first female presidential candidate under the NDP in 2016 demonstrated, according to political analysts, her lifelong commitment to women’s political participation and leadership.

Throughout her public life, Nana Konadu championed women’s economic and political empowerment. Through the 31st December Women’s Movement, founded in 1982, she spearheaded initiatives that improved access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for women, especially in rural Ghana.

The movement’s efforts reportedly led to the establishment of over 800 preschools, introduced adult literacy programmes, and supported women entrepreneurs with small-scale businesses — a foundation that continues to influence gender advocacy groups across the country.

Her leadership also contributed to significant legal reforms, including the Intestate Succession Law (PNDCL 111), which improved inheritance rights for widows and children.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, who passed away at age 76 at the Ridge Hospital in Accra, served as Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady across both the military and civilian administrations of her husband, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.

Her influence stretched beyond the NDC, shaping national conversations on governance, gender equality, and social justice. Political observers have described her as one of Ghana’s most formidable female figures — one who blended activism, political vision, and resilience in pursuit of equality.

For many within the NDC, her passing marks not only the loss of a former First Lady but also the departure of a co-founder whose work laid the moral and social foundation of the party.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings’ political journey mirrors the evolution of Ghana’s democracy — from revolutionary beginnings to competitive multi-party politics. Her advocacy for women’s leadership and grassroots empowerment remains relevant at a time when female political participation in Ghana is still below 20% in Parliament.

Her story serves as both a reminder of Ghana’s democratic growth and an inspiration for younger women seeking to break into leadership and governance.

As tributes pour in from across the political spectrum, Nana Konadu’s name continues to evoke admiration for her courage, conviction, and contribution to Ghana’s nation-building process. Her dual legacy — as a pioneer of women’s empowerment and as a political trailblazer — cements her place in Ghana’s history books.

Mr. Adams’s reflections capture the national sentiment: Nana Konadu may have left the NDC, but her imprint remains embedded in the party’s roots and Ghana’s political conscience.

Read also: Ghana Declares Three Days of National Mourning to Honour Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings