The government of Burkina Faso has honoured Ghana’s late former president, Jerry John Rawlings, by naming a street after him in their capital city, Ouagadougou.
This happened during a special ceremony on Saturday, May 17, 2025, when the country officially opened the new Thomas Sankara Memorial Park. This was announced by the Minister of Defence, Dr Omane Boamah, on his Facebook page on Sunday, 18th May, 2025.
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah led a team of high-ranking officials to represent President John Dramani Mahama at the event. The ceremony was held to remember Captain Thomas Sankara and twelve of his colleagues who were killed in 1987. Sankara, who served as President of Burkina Faso, is considered a hero by many for his revolutionary leadership and pan-African vision.
Dr. Boamah said the visit was a show of support and friendship between Ghana and Burkina Faso. He explained that the people of Burkina Faso continue to respect their fallen heroes, saying they are “gone but not forgotten.” According to him, the memorial park is not just a place to remember the past, but also a symbol of the people’s determination to fight against oppression and colonialism.
The Ghanaian delegation included Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the daughter of the late president, as well as other top government and security officials. Dr. Boamah thanked Burkina Faso’s Minister for Defence, Brigadier General Celestin Simpore, for the warm reception and hospitality.
This special honour shows the deep connection between the two nations and their shared values of justice, freedom, and unity. It also reminds Africans of the lasting impact of leaders like Sankara and Rawlings who fought for the good of the continent.
