Ghana’s former first lady, Nana Rawlings, has died at the age of 76 after several weeks of battling illness and under medical supervision.
Nana was admitted at the foremost Ridge Hospital in the country’s capital where her death was pronounced by medical practitioners, almost five years after the passing of her husband, Jerry Rawlings, who died in November 2020.
Sympathizers were seem gathering at the Rawlings residence in Accra following the announcement of her death by the Ghanaian government which described the deceased as a true democrat whose deeds have contributed to the development of the west African nation.
Nana, who took over the role of the first lady during her husband’s spell as both military and democratic leader from 1981 to 2001, founded the National Democratic Party, NDC, and became the first female candidate to run for the presidential election during the polls held in 2016.
During her prominent stint in politics, Nana was active through her foundation for gender activism to improve the lives of women and girls in the Gold Coast country.
Reacting to her death on which happened Thursday, many described her as a woman of courage and indefatigable character, a voice of peace and moderation in the often toxic nature of Ghanaian politics.
In a glowing tribute to her, the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Mensah, said, “She is gone leaving an indelible impact on women’s empowerment and Ghana’s development which cannot be eased,”
Nana and her husband are survived by their four children.
