The government confirmed her death in a statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister of Government Communications.
The Presidency expressed “deep regret and profound sorrow” upon receiving news of her passing, acknowledging her role as Founder of the 31 December Women’s Movement.
Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings served as Ghana’s First Lady from 1981 to 2001 during the presidency of her late husband, Jerry John Rawlings, who ruled the country first as a military leader and later as a democratically elected president.
During her two decades as First Lady, she became a prominent voice for women’s empowerment and social reform.
She founded the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM) in 1982, an influential organization that promoted entrepreneurship, education, and political participation among Ghanaian women. The DWM is credited with helping reshape gender policy and elevate women’s roles in public life across Ghana.
Jerry John Rawlings’ transformative rule and lasting legacy
Her husband, Jerry John Rawlings, remains one of Ghana’s most consequential leaders, credited with restoring national stability and spearheading major economic reforms. After seizing power through a coup in 1981,
Rawlings later ushered in a new era of democracy in 1992, paving the way for Ghana’s current multiparty political system. His leadership transformed the country’s economy through liberalization policies and anti-corruption campaigns, though not without controversy.
After her husband’s tenure, Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings continued her political journey, founding the National Democratic Party (NDP) after parting ways with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Her political activism and advocacy for women’s rights made her one of the most influential female figures in Ghana’s modern history.
Her death marks the end of a remarkable chapter in Ghana’s political evolution.
