A former Ghana President Jerry John Rawlings has been buried with full military honors on Wednesday January 27, 2021 after a state funeral attended by representatives of world leaders in Accra.
Rawlings, who died in November 2020 aged 73, held power for two decades in Ghana, first as a military ruler and later as an elected president.
He was buried in a coffin draped in Ghana’s national colors; red, yellow, green and black, with an officer’s cap placed at the head of the closed coffin with a glittering gold-plated sword.
Rawlings, a former air force pilot, was given a guard of honor at Independence Square, a symbol of Ghana’s victory over colonial Britain in the nation’s capital Accra.
Earlier this week, there was a two days national mourning for the deceased former president , where his coffin was laid in the state for Ghanaians to pay their final respects
In a tribute his widow Nana Konadu Agyemang wrote; “You took pride in your fatherly duties… you’re passionate and open-hearted.”
“Your gift of sharing knew no bounds. You never hesitated to help in the passing of laws to protect the vulnerable in society. Jerry, I know that God created us for each other. You did your best and I played my part,” she said, breaking down in tears as her daughter Princess Amina read out her tribute.
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo described Rawlings as a “charismatic and fearless leader.”
Jerry Rawlings was buried at a military cemetery in Accra after a three-hour ceremony of tributes, prayers, cultural displays and songs.
