Cecilia Johnson, former Chair of the Council of State, dies at 79
Madam Cecilia Johnson, a veteran Ghanaian politician and former Chairperson of the Council of State, has passed away at the age of 79.
She passed away on Monday, September 22, 2025, after a short illness. Details remain limited, but her death has been confirmed by family sources as well as former colleagues who served with her under the administrations of the late Jerry John Rawlings, the late John Evans Atta Mills, and John Dramani Mahama.
Affectionately known as “Auntie Ceci,” Johnson was a prominent figure in Ghana’s political landscape for decades.
She was instrumental in championing women’s empowerment as General Secretary of the 31st December Women’s Movement, a pioneering organisation that made significant strides in the 1980s and 1990s.
Her subsequent roles included Minister of Local Government and Rural Development under President Rawlings and Chairperson of the Council of State, succeeding the late Prof.
Kofi Nyidevu Awoonor under President Mahama’s first administration. Her tenure cemented her reputation as a dedicated public servant and a strong advocate for youth development and women’s participation in governance.
As a leading figure in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson was widely regarded as part of the party’s “Old Guard,” the generation of leaders who helped shape its transformation from military-patterned revolutionary beginnings into a dominant political force.
Her extensive experience in government and civic life garnered recognition as one of Ghana’s most resilient female politicians.
Born in Awua-Domase in the former Brong-Ahafo Region (present-day Bono Region), Johnson was one of 12 children of Joana Bennett, a highly esteemed matriarch.
Tributes are anticipated to pour in from across the political divide, with her passing seen as marking the close of a significant chapter in Ghana’s democratic journey and the NDC’s history.
