Burkina Faso names major street after Prez. JJ Rawlings of Ghana
The government of Burkina Faso paid a historic tribute to Jerry John Rawlings, the late former President of Ghana, by naming a major street in its capital, Ouagadougou, after him. The newly named “Avenue Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings” was inaugurated in a ceremony that coincided with the unveiling of the Thomas Sankara Mausoleum, accenting the deep historical and ideological ties between the two West African nations and their iconic leaders.
The gesture, on May 18, marks the second time Burkina Faso has honoured a Ghanaian leader with a street name, following the earlier naming of a road after Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The avenue, located in Ouagadougou’s Arrondissement 5, stretches over two kilometres with dual carriageways separated by a central median.
It begins at Avenue Jean-Paul II in the north and ends at Boulevard Capitaine Thomas Sankara in the south, symbolically linking two revolutionary figures who championed pan-Africanism and social justice. The signpost for the avenue reads, “AVENUE FLT LT JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS, ANCIE[N] PRESIDENT DU GHANA, NE LE 22/06/1947 – DCD LE 12/11/2020,” immortalizing Rawlings’ legacy as a transformative African leader.
The ceremony was attended by a high-level Ghanaian delegation led by Ghana’s Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, representing President John Dramani Mahama. Family members of the late president, including his children Kimathi Rawlings and Yaa Asantewaa Rawlings, were also present, adding a personal touch to the event.
Burkina Faso’s decision to name the street after Rawlings reflects his significant contributions to pan-Africanism and his close alliance with Burkina Faso’s revolutionary leader, Thomas Sankara. Rawlings, who led Ghana from 1981 to 2001 after seizing power in two military coups (1979 and 1981), was a staunch advocate for economic reform, social justice, and African unity.
His friendship with Sankara, who rose to power in kóFaso in 1983, was rooted in shared ideals of anti-imperialism and grassroots development. The two leaders collaborated closely, with Rawlings notably supporting the investigation into Sankara’s assassination in 1987.
The Burkinabè government’s spokesperson hailed Rawlings as a “great fighter for the emancipation of the continent, a voice for pan-Africanism, a worthy son of Africa, and a faithful friend of Captain Thomas Sankara and Burkina Faso.”
Yaa Asantewaa Rawlings, speaking at the ceremony, expressed gratitude to the people of Burkina Faso for honouring her father’s legacy. She emphasized the symbolic importance of the avenue as a representation of strong ties between the Ghanaian and Burkinabè peoples and her father’s unwavering commitment to African liberation.
Often described as a transcendent political figure, Rawlings transformed Ghana from a period of economic turmoil in the 1970s to relative stability in the 1990s. His adoption of free-market reforms, coupled with his commitment to multi-party democracy after 1992, earned Ghana one of the highest economic growth rates in Africa during his tenure.
Despite his controversial methods, including the execution of military officers during his early rule, Rawlings is credited with building national pride and laying the foundation for Ghana’s democratic system. He passed away on November 12, 2020 aged 73, in a hospital in Ghana’s capital city, Accra, after a short illness.
The inauguration of Avenue Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings comes at a time when Burkina Faso, under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, is rekindling the revolutionary spirit of Sankara. Traoré, who has positioned himself as a pan-Africanist leader, has drawn comparisons to both Sankara and Rawlings for his efforts to challenge Western influence and promote African sovereignty.
Dr. Omane Boamah, in a post-event statement, expressed pride in representing Ghana at the meaningful and historic occasion and acknowledged the hospitality of Burkina Faso’s government, led by Minister for Defence Brig. General Celestin Simpore. He also praised the contributions of former Ghanaian officials under Rawlings, such as Naval Captain Asaase Gyima and Kofi Totobi Quakyi, to the bilateral relationship.
Written by Oral Ofori.
Oral Ofori is Founder and Publisher at www.TheAfricanDream.net, a digital storyteller and producer, and also an information and research consultant.
