“Love her or Hate her”: The Complex Legacy of First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings

Existing historical research identifies African first ladies, such as Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings of Ghana, as femocrats who appropriate women’s empowerment narratives to advance their self-seeking political interests. However, I contend that a femocratic analysis alone is insufficient to understand the historical significance of African first ladies thoroughly. Solely using a femocratic framework may overlook the complexities of power within political systems, the obstacles first ladies face in promoting their agendas, and the constraints they face because of limited resources. This article argues that it is important to understand the role of African first ladies within the context of patriarchal societal structures that suppress women’s political power and agency. Through a case study of Agyeman-Rawlings, this work explores the various factors that influenced her role and the opportunities and constraints she encountered as a political spouse for almost 20 years (1982–2000).