Former Council of State chair dies at 79

Ghana has lost one of its most influential female political leaders. Cecilia Johnson, a veteran politician and former Chairperson of the Council of State, passed away on Monday, September 22, 2025, after a short illness. She was 79.

Family sources confirmed her passing, while former colleagues from successive governments also paid tribute to her decades of service to the nation.

Cecilia Johnson’s career spanned the administrations of the late Jerry John Rawlings, the late John Evans Atta Mills, and John Dramani Mahama.

Known affectionately as “Auntie Ceci,” Johnson rose to prominence as the General Secretary of the 31st December Women’s Movement, a groundbreaking organisation established in the 1980s.

The movement was instrumental in advancing women’s rights, literacy, and economic empowerment across Ghana, particularly in rural communities.

Her leadership there positioned her as one of the country’s strongest advocates for gender equality at a time when women’s political participation was limited.

Service In Government

Under President Rawlings, Johnson was appointed Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, where she spearheaded reforms aimed at strengthening decentralisation and improving rural governance structures.

Later, during President John Mahama’s first administration, she was appointed Chairperson of the Council of State, succeeding the late Professor Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor.

Her tenure at the Council of State was marked by her insistence on accountability and her advocacy for policies that supported youth development and women’s participation in governance.

These efforts cemented her legacy as a principled public servant who combined grassroots activism with high-level political influence.

A pillar of the NDC

As a leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson was considered one of the party’s “Old Guards”—the generation of leaders who guided its transformation from the revolutionary Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era into a dominant political party in Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

Her contributions helped the NDC consolidate its political base and expand its reach, earning her respect across party lines even from political opponents.

Personal life and legacy

Born in Awua-Domase in the then Brong-Ahafo Region (now Bono Region), Johnson was one of 12 children of Joana Bennett, a highly respected community matriarch.

Despite her rise to national prominence, she remained closely connected to her roots, often championing causes that addressed rural poverty and women’s struggles at the community level.