By Mavis Paintsil, Accra
President John Dramani Mahama has charged the National Democratic Congress and the nation to honour the late Jerry John Rawlings not with words alone, but by advancing the causes he championed until his death.
Rawlings’ ideals of social justice, accountability, national service and lifting up ordinary Ghanaians are still the compass Ghana needs for real development, the President said.
“The highest tribute we can pay to those who built this movement is not to mention them once in a while. It is to pick up the work they left behind and finish it,” President Mahama stated.
He made the remarks on Monday at the dedication of the NDC national headquarters as “Jerry John Rawlings House”. A bust of the former president was also unveiled. The ceremony, held with the J.J. Rawlings Foundation, marked what would have been Rawlings’ 79th birthday. The theme was “From Revolution to Fourth Republic: The Rawlings Legacy”.
Name Change Reflects Enduring Principles
President Mahama described Rawlings as a leader who reshaped Ghana’s politics through integrity, patriotism, discipline, sacrifice and service. He said those same principles must guide the NDC and government today.
Renaming the party’s operational base was symbolic, he explained. That building is where policies are drafted and decisions made, so it should carry the name of the man whose values must shape them.
Rawlings consistently opposed having things named after him while he lived, preferring his legacy to live in people’s minds. But President Mahama said the party had a responsibility to make that legacy visible for younger generations who never met him.
Call for Unity and Delivery
The President urged NDC members to protect party unity, build strong institutions, and focus on what matters to Ghanaians: jobs, economic growth, better healthcare, quality education and honest governance.
“As government, we are working to open opportunities for young people, support businesses, create jobs, cut poverty and improve living standards,” he said. “We know the problems we face. But Ghana’s potential is bigger than those problems. Together, we will build a stronger and more prosperous country.”
NDC Leaders Endorse Tribute
NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah said the National Executive Committee approved the renaming after wide consultation. He noted that while Rawlings disliked personal monuments, the party needed a permanent reminder of his contribution.
“If we leave his memory only in the hearts of those who knew him, it will fade when they are gone. A physical landmark keeps his ideals alive,” he said.
General Secretary Fifi Fiavi Kwetey said the birthday commemoration should push members to ask themselves if they still live by truth, justice, sacrifice and service. Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga assured that NDC MPs in Parliament remain guided by the party’s social democratic values and the spirit of the June 4 Revolution.
Need this cghanaianannouncer
send invite to aba.mavis@gmail.com,or call 0505914033,0207697495
advert,sponsorship,news,partnership, church activities, graduation ceremony, wedding, birthday party,call 0505913033,0207697495
