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Ghana’s Ambassador to the U.S. mourns Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings
Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, describing her as a bold and visionary leader who made a lasting impact on Ghana’s political history.
In a tribute issued by the Embassy of Ghana in Washington D.C. on Thursday, October 23, 2025, the Ambassador recalled how Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings played a pivotal role in shaping his political journey.
He said he was “awakened far away in Iowa” by the heartbreaking news and had initially hoped it was untrue. Upon confirmation, he felt a profound sense of personal loss.
Mr. Smith recounted that Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings introduced him to active politics in the early 1990s and gave him the opportunity to serve in public life when he returned from the United Kingdom in 1994.
He expressed gratitude for her confidence in him and acknowledged her influence on his career and the lives of many others.
Reflecting on their past relationship, he noted that though they faced challenges over time, he chose to remember her for the significant impact she made on him, on the many women she inspired, and on Ghana’s democratic growth.
The Ambassador extended his condolences to the Rawlings family Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina, and Kimathi reaffirming his hand of friendship and support during their moment of grief.
He described Mrs. Agyeman-Rawlings as a “bold, visionary, and courageous leader,” adding that her legacy as a champion of women’s empowerment and political reform will endure for generations.
“May her soul rest in perfect peace,” he concluded.
By: Jacob Aggrey
National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Committee member and Volta River Authority (VRA) Board Member, Wonder Victor Kutor, has described calls for the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as premature and unjustified.
He argued that there was no evidence to establish that the minister had committed any wrongdoing to warrant such demands.
Speaking on Joy News in Accra on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Mr Kutor questioned what had changed to justify the growing calls for the minister to step down.
He recalled that the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, had earlier indicated that the opposition was not accusing Mr Ablakwa of any wrongdoing.
Mr Kutor, therefore, challenged those demanding the minister’s resignation to provide fresh evidence to support their position.
“The call for the Minister to resign is premature, it is untenable. There is no evidence. I mean, what has he done wrong?” he questioned.
He added that documents, including boarding passes, airline receipts and flight manifests relating to the minister’s return journey, had been provided.
Mr Kutor expressed concern that the calls for Mr Ablakwa’s resignation could discourage young politicians from speaking out against corruption and advocating transparency.
According to him, politicians should not be targeted or maligned for demanding accountability, warning that such treatment could create the impression that speaking against corruption could later become a liability when one is appointed to public office.
He maintained that calling for accountability and transparency should not be used as grounds to target public officials without evidence of wrongdoing.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana will host the Africa Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTAC) 2026 alongside Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA) 2026 in Accra from December 9 to 12, 2026.
On the back of these programmes, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on corporate Ghana, the media and the general public to support the initiative through partnerships, sponsorships and active participation.
The events, supported by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), will bring together stakeholders to celebrate Africa’s rich cultural heritage, strengthen the creative economy, promote industrial skills development and create employment opportunities for young people.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
