Rawlings refused attempts to have national institutions named after him – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama says former President Jerry John Rawlings consistently rejected attempts to have national institutions and monuments named after him.

President Mahama made the remarks on Monday during a ceremony to rename the National Democratic Congress (NDC) headquarters in honour of its founder, the late Jerry John Rawlings, as party members gathered to celebrate what would have been his 78th birthday.

Addressing party faithful, government officials and members of the Rawlings family, President Mahama said the late statesman was uncomfortable with personal glorification and preferred to be remembered through the impact of his service rather than physical monuments.

“President Rawlings himself, if he were alive, would have been very uncomfortable with the ceremony we’re holding, by which we seek to immortalize his name,” he said.

He explained that Rawlings repeatedly resisted efforts to attach his name to major national projects despite his immense contributions to Ghana’s development.

“And as the chairman said, he resisted all attempts to name significant monuments after him,” President Mahama stated.

He recalled that the late President had politely declined an offer to have the University for Development Studies named after him, despite donating his World Food Prize award as seed funding for the establishment of the institution.

“He politely declined to have the University of Development Studies named after him, even though he had given up his World Food Prize award as seed funding to start that university,” he said.

President Mahama also recounted an exchange during his previous administration when he sought Rawlings’ permission to name the Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel for the ENI Sankofa oil field after him.

“He replied to my letter during my previous presidency, when I wrote to seek his permission to name the FPSO for the ENI Sankofa field after him,” he said.

According to President Mahama, Rawlings instead suggested that the honour be extended to former President John Agyekum Kufuor.

“He said, pass it on to President Kufuor. I prefer to have my name inscribed in the minds and hearts of men than on statues and monuments,” President Mahama quoted.

The ceremony brought together senior NDC officials, Members of Parliament, government appointees and members of the Rawlings family, including Korle Klottey MP Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings and her siblings.

Party leaders believe the renaming of the headquarters will be a fitting tribute to a man whose leadership shaped the NDC and left a lasting impact on the country’s democratic journey.

Rawlings, who died on November 12, 2020, served as Ghana’s President under the Fourth Republic after winning the 1992 and 1996 presidential elections. Nearly six years after his death, the NDC continues to honour his legacy through initiatives aimed at preserving his contribution to Ghana’s political history.