Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana

Feature Content
Feature Content

SOCIAL

Former President Rawlings goes home today

The mortal remains of former President and Founder of the main opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ft. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings will be laid to rest today after a three-day long state funeral.

Date Created : 1/27/2021 : Story Author : Emmanuel Frimpong/Ghanadistricts.com

His remains is expected to be buried at the Military Cemetary in Accra.

President Jerry John Rawlings died on 12 November, 2020 at the Korle-Bu University Hospital in Accra, where he had been admitted after a short illness.

He died at the age of 73.

Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described as remarkable, Mr Rawlings’ contribution to the "evolution of our nation, and the entrenchment of its democratic institutions and culture."

President Akufo-Addo in his final tribute further underscored some critical roles the former President played in his time as President and chairman of Ecowas which he said, has paved way for all his successors in the 4th Republic to be honoured by their peers with the occupancy of that high office.

"His chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government set the example, whereby virtually all his successors, John Agyekum Kufuor, John Dramani Mahama, and I, the 2nd, 4th and 5th Presidents, respectively, of the 4th Republic, have been honoured by their peers with the occupancy of that high office, reinforcing the pan-African vocation which has been an essential element of Ghanaian public policy since independence,” he noted.

"I called him ‘Comandante’, because of his admiration for the famous Latin American revolutionaries, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, and Daniel Ortega, a nickname which seemed to please him."

"I believe that history, on balance, will be kind to him, and will render a positive verdict on his contribution to the evolution of our nation, and the entrenchment of its democratic institutions and culture. It is entirely appropriate and fitting that he should receive a State Funeral with full honours to express the gratitude of the nation for that contribution," the President added.