Former President Jerry Rawlings’ family and friends gathered at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Adabraka, Accra, to celebrate a year since his passing.
Zanetor and Kimathi Rawlings, the late president’s children, took turns eulogizing their father, who was Ghana’s longest-serving Head of State who died on November 12, 2020, after a short illness.
Zanetor Rawlings paid respect to, among other things, her father’s anti-corruption ideals.
“The journey of combating corruption has been a complex journey for Ghana, but while you lived, you never stopped championing that cause,” she said.
Additionally, she recognized Mr. Rawlings’ pivotal role in Ghana’s history.
“Your loss was a loss to the whole country, and the pain one felt was by most Ghanaians,” Zanetor Rawlings added.
Kimathi Rawlings expressed the Rawlings family’s gratitude to the government and the National Democratic Congress, the party Mr. Rawlings established.
“We are very grateful for the huge presence and love showed to your founder and the family. We count on your continued support.”
Former President John Dramani Mahama, one of the NDC’s stalwarts in attendance, paid homage, declaring that the late former President Jerry John Rawlings’ legacy would live on in forever.
“It [His memory] will live forever. Today we mourn him. It is exactly one year since he passed, and yet he remains a colossus in the history of this country,” he said to the press after the service.
The NDC’s Director of Elections, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, also addressed the media, stating that the party would continue to adhere to the foundational principles.
“On these occasions, it hits you very hard that he is really gone and the best we can do is to follow his principles as a party, particularly in these difficult times that we are,” Mr. Ankrah said.
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