Burkina Faso Names Street After Ghana's Late President Jerry John Rawlings

May 19, 2025 - 16:51

May 19, 2025 - 16:53

Burkina Faso Names Street After Ghana's Late President Jerry John Rawlings

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso - 19 May, 2025 - A street in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, has been named after Ghana's former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, highlighting the strong bond between the two West African nations.

The event drew representatives and well-wishers from across the continent, showcasing solidarity and a shared vision for pan-Africanism.

Kimathi Rawlings, the late President's son, spoke about his father's legacy and the lasting bond between Rawlings and Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso's revolutionary leader in an interview with GTV.

“I think it’s something that should have happened at this magnitude a while ago. The Thomas Sankara Foundation has done its best to keep [Sankara’s] legend alive. And we’ve always been happy to support.”

According to him, both leaders were known for their commitment to grassroots empowerment and African unity.

The occasion also served as a platform for Kimathi Rawlings to call for greater unity across Africa. He emphasized the need for collaboration, warning against working in silos, and expressed optimism that the continent's leaders are on the cusp of achieving long-sought unity.

“President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, my father, was a huge supporter of the foundation and he was a very close friend of Thomas Sankara."

“It means a lot to be here and it means a lot that the whole of Africa was more or less here to support this momentous occasion,” he said. “United we will rise and divided we will fall. That’s the way I look at it.”

The tribute to Jerry John Rawlings comes after a similar gesture by Ghana's former government, which named Sankara Circle in Accra after the Burkinabé leader. Despite being renamed Ako Adjei Interchange in 2005, many locals still refer to the area as Sankara Circle.

The renewed focus on African unity comes amid shifting global dynamics, with Kimathi Rawlings, who was joined by her sister, Yaa Asantewaa Rawlings, noting that the current climate presents a rare opportunity for the continent to come together and drive progress.

“I think now more than ever, we have the opportunity to come together as a continent. Many have come before who have tried to accomplish this. But I think the atmosphere is perfect for that kind of unity,” Kimathi stated. “We see what is happening in the West and for once I think we are in a position to look inward at ourselves and see how we can progress as a continent.”

“Not just divided where everybody is doing something in their own little corner. Together, I think we can be a force for good in this world,'' Kimathi added.

Source: Lead News Online