In a heartfelt gesture that transcended borders, the people and government of Burkina Faso have honoured Ghana’s late former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, by naming a street in Ouagadougou after him.
The recognition came as part of a broader celebration of Pan-African icons, including Thomas Sankara, and was met with deep appreciation from the Rawlings family and the Ghanaian government. Here are seven highlights from the commemorative event:
1. Rawlings’ family reacts with gratitude
During the street naming ceremony held on Sunday, May 18, in the Burkinabe capital, Ms. Yaa Asantewaa Agyeman-Rawlings, Executive Director of the JJ Rawlings Foundation, expressed the family’s appreciation to the people and government of Burkina Faso. She described the honour as “not only to the family, but to the people of Ghana.”
2. Recognition of a life committed to social justice
Speaking at the event, Ms. Agyeman-Rawlings paid tribute to her father’s lifelong dedication to justice and equality. “This is a huge recognition of the legacy of a man who dedicated his life to social justice, a man who gave his life in service to the ordinary people,” she remarked.
3. Shared ideals with Thomas Sankara
The ceremony also highlighted the ideological connection between Jerry Rawlings and his long-time friend, Thomas Sankara. “For Jerry Rawlings, the pursuit of a just society…was not a political ambition. It was a calling, it was a duty,” Ms. Agyeman-Rawlings said. She noted that both leaders championed African self-sufficiency and stood firmly against neo-colonialism.
4. Street naming coincides with Sankara mausoleum inauguration
The unveiling of Rawlings’ street followed the inauguration of a mausoleum dedicated to Thomas Sankara and twelve of his colleagues, who were killed in 1987. Rawlings, until his death in 2020, served as the honorary Chair of the Sankara Memorial Committee, a role that reflected his unwavering support for Sankara’s ideals.
5. A symbol of African unity and solidarity
Mr. Gilbert Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso’s Minister for Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, unveiled the plaque on behalf of the Prime Minister. He praised Rawlings as “a great fighter for the emancipation of our continent, a voice of Pan-Africanism, a worthy son of Africa, and a great friend of Captain Thomas Sankara and Burkina Faso.”
5. Avenue dedicated to Rawlings
The newly named avenue in Ouagadougou stretches over two kilometres, linking Avenue Jean-Paul II in the north with Boulevard Capitaine Isidore Noël Thomas Sankara in the south. It is expected to stand as a symbol of unity and mutual respect between the people of Ghana and Burkina Faso.
5. High-level Ghanaian delegation in attendance
Representing President John Dramani Mahama at the event was a high-powered Ghanaian delegation. Among them were Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle; Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah; Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka; and other senior officials.
The naming of the street in Ouagadougou not only immortalizes the contributions of Jerry John Rawlings to the continent but also strengthens the historical and ideological bonds between Ghana and Burkina Faso—two nations united in their reverence for leaders who fought for Africa’s dignity and independence.
