Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Smith, has described the passing of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings as a deeply personal loss, recounting her profound influence on his political life despite their strained relationship in recent years.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr. Smith revealed that though he and the late Mrs. Rawlings had not been on cordial terms before her death, he still credited her for his rise in politics.
“It is a sad day for me,” he said. “Our relationship wasn’t cordial before her death because a lot had happened, but I am the politician I am today because of her. She was the one who brought me into Ghanaian politics, not her husband.”
Mr. Smith shared how news of her death reached him unexpectedly in the early hours of the morning.
“Someone called me around 4 a.m. U.S. time to say he was hearing about the death of the former First Lady. I made a few calls to the family, and they initially gave me the impression it wasn’t true. Later, I was told she was in a coma — only to hear later that she had passed.”
The ambassador said the news was heartbreaking, especially since he had not heard she was unwell. “It is sad and heartbreaking because I never heard of her sickness,” he said somberly.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, known for her strong advocacy for women’s rights and leadership of the 31st December Women’s Movement, was widely respected for her contributions to national development and politics.
Her passing on Thursday, October 23, has drawn an outpouring of tributes from across Ghana’s political divide.
She was 76 years old.
Source: Gertrude Otchere
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