Military, NDC and family remember Rawlings six years on

The Ghana Armed Forces, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the family of former President Jerry John Rawlings have paid tribute to him at a wreath-laying ceremony marking the sixth anniversary of his death.

The ceremony, held at the Ghana Armed Forces Cemetery at Burma Camp in Accra on Thursday, November 12, 2026, brought together members of the Military High Command, representatives of the NDC and relatives of the late former Head of State.

The gathering was led by the Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces, Air Vice Marshal Joshua Mensah Larkai, and the NDC General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.

Also present were Rawlings’ children, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina and Kimathi Agyeman-Rawlings, and members of the Agbotui family led by its head, retired Colonel Joshua Agbotui.

Officiating at the ceremony, Reverend Father Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Arthur urged Ghanaians to reflect on the values Rawlings stood for and ensure that they were passed on to future generations.

He said the memorial was not merely an occasion to recall the former president's life but also to consider the lessons his public service offered the country.

“What we bequeath to posterity is what matters,” he said.

He identified transparency, probity, accountability, discipline and love for humanity as key elements of Rawlings’ legacy, urging the gathering to uphold those values.

“My prayer is that as we celebrate him today, we would uphold these virtues and values and make sure that his memory lives on,” the chaplain said.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the former president's children by Yaa Asantewaa Agyeman-Rawlings, while Colonel Agbotui represented the Agbotui and allied families.

Mr Kwetey laid a wreath on behalf of the NDC, the political party founded by Rawlings.

Rawlings died on November 12, 2020, after serving as Ghana’s Head of State from 1981 to 2000, following an earlier period in office from June 4 to September 24, 1979.

He led the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) from 1981 until the return to constitutional rule in 1992, when he was elected president under the Fourth Republic. After two terms, he handed over power on January 7, 2001.

He later served as the United Nations Eminent Person for International Volunteerism.

During his years in office, Rawlings pursued policies in health, education and rural development. His administration also undertook programmes to expand access to electricity, particularly in communities that had previously been underserved.

He was also known for his interest in environmental sanitation and tree planting, at times joining voluntary groups to desilt drains. He repeatedly raised concerns about indiscriminate tree felling and the growing preference for concrete structures at the expense of green spaces.

Six years after his death, Thursday’s ceremony offered an occasion for the family, political associates and the military to reflect on the life and public legacy of a figure who played a defining role in Ghana’s political history.