Former Ghanaian leader Jerry John Rawlings was buried in full military honor on Wednesday after a state funeral attended by representatives of world leaders.
Rawlings, who died in November at the age of 73, occupied power for two decades in Ghana, first as a military ruler and then as president-elect.
He was buried in a coffin covered in the national colors of Ghana, red, yellow, green and black, and an officer cap was placed on the head of the closed coffin with a shiny gold-plated sword.
Rawlings, a former Air Force pilot, received an honor guard at Independence Square – a symbol of Ghana’s victory over colonial Britain – in the country’s capital, Accra.
Hundreds of Ghanaians earlier this week paid their last respects when their coffin was placed in the state during two days of national mourning under strict COVID-19 protocols.
“You were proud of your fatherly duties … you are passionate and open-hearted,” said his widow Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings in a tribute.
“Your gift of sharing was limitless. You never hesitated to help pass laws to protect the vulnerable in society. Jerry, I know that God created us for each other. You did your best and I did my part. “she said, bursting into tears as her daughter, Princess Amina, read her tribute.
Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, described Rawlings as a “charismatic and fearless leader”.
Papa J, as Rawlings was known, was buried in a military cemetery in Accra after a three-hour ceremony of tributes, prayers, cultural displays and songs.
Behind the scenes, Rawlings’ family, traditional chiefs and political figures are at odds over the legacy of the former Air Force lieutenant, who overthrew governments twice, but was widely seen by the poor as his champion.
Rawlings first experienced power in 1979, when he teamed up with other junior officers frustrated by widespread corruption to take control.
He quickly handed the reins over to an elected president, but was soon back on top after another coup on December 31, 1981.
The son of a Scottish father and a Ghanaian mother, he became a national icon by leading Ghana for 20 years until 2001, being elected president at the polls in 1992 and inaugurating democracy.
str-joa / pma / tgb