Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Koku Anyidoho, has praised the leadership of the NDC for the renaming of the party’s headquarters to honour its Founder, the late Former President Jerry John Rawlings. He expressed optimism that this significant gesture will pave the way for greater unity within the party.
In a post on his X page on June 22, he noted, “Today, June 22, marks the birthday of the Founder of the NDC, President Jerry John Rawlings, and a momentous event is taking place at the Party’s Headquarters to rename the building after him.” He added that the headquarters stands as one of the most important monuments established for the party by President John Evans Atta-Mills.
Koku reflected on the lasting legacy of Atta-Mills, suggesting that he would be pleased to see Rawlings honoured in this way, recognising the opportunity Rawlings provided him to serve as Vice President, which ultimately enabled him to lead the NDC. He remarked, “Kudos to the NDC leadership for cementing Jerry John Rawlings’ name into the party’s identity.” He further shared that National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah announced plans to name the upcoming structures for the Party School after President Atta-Mills, which he feels is a commendable decision.
The NDC commemorated Rawlings during a ceremony marking what would have been his 79th birthday, with festivities organised in collaboration with the J.J. Rawlings Foundation. The event was themed “From Revolution to Fourth Republic: The Rawlings Legacy,” celebrating his contributions to Ghana’s political evolution and democratic governance.
This day witnessed the official renaming of the party headquarters to “Jerry Rawlings House,” a symbolic act aimed at preserving the legacy of the man credited with founding the NDC and shaping Ghana’s Fourth Republic. The ceremony, which included the unveiling of a bust in his honour, gathered senior party officials, supporters, and dignitaries who highlighted Rawlings’ vital role in Ghana’s democratic journey and the enduring significance of his ideals within the NDC.
Rawlings, who passed away in November 2020, remains one of the most influential figures in Ghana’s political history, having first served as a military ruler before facilitating the country’s transition to constitutional governance and serving as the first President of the Fourth Republic from 1993 to 2001.
