Ghana pays tribute to Sankara, Rawlings at historic memorial ceremony in B.Faso

Defence Minister leads Ghanaian Delegation to Ouagadougou

In a powerful gesture of solidarity and shared revolutionary history, Ghana’s Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, led a high-ranking delegation to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to represent President John Dramani Mahama at the inauguration of the Thomas Sankara Memorial Park. The visit served as a poignant reminder of the ideological kinship between two of West Africa’s most revered leaders—Captain Thomas Sankara and former President Jerry John Rawlings.

Honouring a Pan-African legacy

The memorial, which pays homage to Sankara and twelve of his comrades assassinated on October 15, 1987, features a towering statue and has already become a continental symbol of remembrance and revolution. In his statement following the ceremony, Dr. Boamah described the occasion as one “of solidarity,” emphasizing that the fallen leaders remain “forever alive” in the hearts of the people of Burkina Faso.

He noted that the memorial stands not only as a tribute but as a “beacon of revolutionary ideals,” inspiring future generations in the fight against colonial legacies and modern-day oppression.

Jerry Rawlings celebrated alongside Sankara

In a moment of symbolic resonance, the ceremony also celebrated the legacy of Ghana’s own revolutionary, Jerry John Rawlings. A close ally of Sankara during their lifetimes, Rawlings was lauded for his unwavering commitment to pan-African unity and anti-imperialist principles. According to Dr. Boamah, the people of Burkina Faso gave Rawlings “immense posthumous praise” and announced plans to name a street in the capital city of Ouagadougou in his honor.

This transnational tribute underscores the historical and ideological alliance between the two nations and their leaders, bound by a shared vision of justice, equality, and African dignity.

A delegation rooted in security and legacy

The Ghanaian delegation reflected the importance of the occasion, with key figures from the security, communications, and diplomatic sectors in attendance. Notable members included Minister for the Interior and National Security Muntaka Mubarak, Minister for Government Communications Felix Kwakye Ofosu, and Ghana’s Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahel States, Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey (rtd).

Also present was Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, daughter of the late President and Chairperson of Parliament’s Security and Intelligence Committee, adding a deeply personal dimension to Ghana’s participation.

Dr. Boamah also extended acknowledgments to former national security leaders under Rawlings—Naval Captain Asaase Gyima (rtd) and Mr. Kofi Totobi Quakyi—for their foundational roles in shaping Ghana’s revolutionary path.

A message of unity in the face of adversity

As Ghana and Burkina Faso continue to confront terrorism and neocolonial pressures, the event served as a timely reminder of their enduring alliance. Dr. Boamah concluded by expressing gratitude to Burkina Faso’s Minister for Defence, Brig. General Celestin Simpore, and the Burkinabe people for their warm hospitality.

“We were proud to represent Ghana at such a meaningful and historic occasion,” he stated.

The ceremony marked more than a remembrance—it was a renewal of a shared revolutionary spirit and a call to resist oppression through unity, resilience, and mutual respect.