A video has gone viral on social media of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) conducting a thorough security sweep at the Independence Square ahead of the final funeral rites of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings.
In the viral video shared on X, the Soldier deployed sniffer dogs and detection devices as a security measure ahead of the state burial.
Meanwhile, thousands of Ghanaians today, November 28, 2025, will bid a final farewell to the country’s longest-serving First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
The late First Lady’s state funeral will take place at the Black Star Square today.
The state funeral, which is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., is expected to be attended by President Mahama, the Vice President Prof Jane Naana, government officials, political leaders, parliamentarians, diplomats, gender advocates, clergy and mourners across the country and the world.
The ceremony will be organised under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama.
The state burial seeks to honour Mrs Rawlings for her remarkable dedication and significant contributions to the promotion of women’s and children’s rights, as well as her service to national development.
President John Dramani Mahama had earlier announced that the late Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings would be accorded a state burial in honour of her immense contributions.
Speaking during his visit to the Rawlings family house on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, President Mahama stated, “… I just want to now announce as president, that we shall give her a state burial”.
“The last time I saw her, she was her lively self, full of energy and passion for the causes she cared about. To hear of her passing within such a short period is truly heartbreaking,” he said.
He added, “When you travel around the country, you see evidence of her work — oil palm extraction and production projects that continue to empower women and support families. Her efforts transformed livelihoods and gave dignity to women through economic independence”.
Also, President Mahama, signing the book on behalf of himself and his wife, the First Lady, Lordina Mahama, wrote, “Ghana is proud of your achievement in your 19 solid Years as 1st Lady and ‘Mother of the Nation’”. While we are all saddened by your passing, we celebrate your life.
“It’s been unsettling that you passed when we were just planning the 5th anniversary and final funeral rites for our former President, your husband. You have fought a good fight and deserve peaceful rest,” the president wrote.
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.
Watch the video below:
Soldiers conduct a thorough security sweep, deploying sniffer dogs and detection devices, at Independence Square ahead of the final funeral rites of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings. pic.twitter.com/NEejaYNCMn
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) November 28, 2025