Today, my mother, COP Jane Christie Donkor rtd, and I visited the family of the late Former First Lady, Her Excellency Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, to offer our condolences and sign the book of condolence.
My mother’s presence carried deep meaning. She holds the honor of being the first female police officer in Ghana to attain the rank of Commissioner of Police. Her story is deeply linked to that of Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, who in 1992 championed her promotion from Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP).
During that period, Assistant Commissioner of Police was the last rank a senior female police officer could attain after which they can retire. My mother and her colleague, COP Gifty Anin Botwe rtd, appealed to the then First Lady, whose lifelong advocacy for women’s empowerment opened new doors for women in the Ghana Police Service. Through her influence and support, my mother broke that barrier, becoming the first female DCOP, and later, the first female Commissioner of Police (COP).
Our visit today was not only to mourn a remarkable woman but also to honor a legacy that changed the course of history for women in policing and public service.
May the memory of Her Excellency Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings continue to inspire generations of women to lead, to serve, and to break barriers with courage and conviction: a legacy I am living on.