Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has disclosed that the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, was ready to rejoin the party before her death.
It will be recalled, Nana Konadu, after losing the NDC’s presidential primary in 2012, left the NDC and formed the National Democratic Party (NDP) as their was founder and leader, but the Electoral Commission (EC) disqualified her and 11 other presidential candidates.
Fifi Kwetey, leading the NDC delegation to her residence on Monday, October 27, described Nana Konadu as a towering figure.
According to him, her legacy of courage, leadership, and advocacy for women would remain an inspiration to generations within and beyond the NDC.
He further revealed that the NDC had long recognised her contributions to its founding and growth and had been working to mend strained relations.
Speaking after leading an NDC delegation to her residence Fifi Kwetey stated, “I wouldn’t say the talks were unsuccessful. I would rather say that the timing was the challenge. Because even on her part, you could clearly see that she was ready”.
“We have constantly said that with the role she played in forming this party and making it great and strong—despite the difficulties that came along the way—we needed to put those behind us. I am happy that during her time, these efforts started and she embraced them,” he explained.
“The party will miss her dearly,” he added.
The late First Lady passed away in the early hours of Thursday, 23 October, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra.
She served as Ghana’s longest First Lady from 1981 to 2001 as the wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Serving from June 4, 1979, to September 24, 1979, under the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC).
Also from December 31, 1981, to January 6, 1993, under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), and also during her husband’s two constitutional terms from January 7, 1993, to January 6, 2001.
She also created the 31st December Women’s Movement (DWM) in 1982, a movement created to empower women in Ghana through initiatives promoting entrepreneurship, education, and political participation.
The Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings was part of the dignitaries who laid wreaths for the eight public servants who died in the August 6th helicopter crash.
Her most recent public appearance was participation in the Dote Yie funeral rites for the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, where she was accompanied by two of her adult children, Amina Agyeman-Rawlings and Kimathi Agyeman-Rawlings.
Meanwhile, the family of the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, has urged Ghanaians to give the family some privacy as they mourn the passing of their mother.
Speaking to a Journalist in Accra on Thursday, October 23, the head of the family, Oheneba Akwesi Abayie, revealed all relevant institutions have been officially notified of the former first lady’s death.
Oheneba Akwesi Abayie stated, “His Excellency, the President John Dramani Mahama, has called for an official statement to be made confirming Nana Kunodu’s death.
At this stage, the family is obviously in mourning and will crave your indulgence to give us some privacy. All further notices will be relayed by the government,” he stated.