President John Dramani Mahama has said that the greatest tribute the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the nation can pay to Jerry John Rawlings is to continue the work the former President started and to uphold the values he championed throughout his life.
He said the late statesman’s vision of social justice, accountability, national service and the empowerment of ordinary citizens remained relevant to Ghana’s development and democratic progress.
“The greatest honour we can bestow on those who built this movement is not merely to remember them occasionally; it is to continue the work they started,” President Mahama stated.
The President was speaking at a ceremony to rename the NDC national headquarters as Jerry John Rawlings House, where a bust was also unveiled in honour of the party’s founder in Accra on Monday.
The ceremony, organised in collaboration with the J.J. Rawlings Foundation, formed part of a series of commemorative events to mark the 79th birthday of the party's Founder, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, on Monday, June 22, 2026.
It was on the theme: "From Revolution to Fourth Republic: The Rawlings Legacy".
Values
President Mahama described the former President as a transformative leader whose values of integrity, patriotism, sacrifice, discipline and service to the people helped to shape the country’s democratic tradition and political freedoms.
He said the renaming of the party headquarters was not only a tribute to Rawlings’ immense contributions to the NDC and the nation, but also a declaration that the values of integrity, patriotism, sacrifice, discipline and service to the people must continue to guide both the party and government.
The President stressed that the headquarters served as the operational heart of the NDC, where policies were formulated and decisions taken, making it an appropriate place to preserve the party’s history and institutional memory.
President Mahama mentioned that former President Rawlings had consistently resisted attempts to immortalise him through monuments while alive, preferring instead to have his legacy preserved in the hearts and minds of people.
He, however, said the party’s decision to honour its Founder would inspire future generations and remind them of the sacrifices that built both the NDC and Ghana’s current democratic system.
The President further urged party members to preserve unity, strengthen institutions and remain focused on addressing the expectations of Ghanaians through job creation, economic transformation, improved health care, education, and accountable governance.
“As a government, I can assure you (that) we are committed to implementing policies that will expand opportunities for young people, support businesses, create jobs, reduce poverty and improve the quality of life for all Ghanaians.
We understand the challenges facing our nation, but we also recognise the immense potential that lies before us.
And I believe that together we shall build a stronger and more prosperous Ghana,” he added.
Decision
The National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu-Nketiah, said the decision to rename the party headquarters followed extensive deliberations by the National Executive Committee.
He explained that although Rawlings opposed having monuments named after him while alive, the party considered it necessary to preserve his legacy for future generations and to honour his contributions to the party and the country.
“If we allow his memory to remain only in the hearts and minds of those who knew him, it will also die when those hearts and minds pass,” he stated, emphasising the decision to erect a physical presence in memory of the late President.
Beyond remembrance
The General Secretary of the NDC, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, said the commemoration should serve not only as a remembrance of Rawlings’ birthday but also as an opportunity for party members to reflect on whether they remained faithful to the principles of truth, justice, sacrifice and service that underpinned the party’s founding ideals.
The Majority Leader in Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, assured the party leadership of the continued loyalty and commitment of NDC Members of Parliament.
He said the party’s social democratic values continued to guide the scrutiny of legislation, policies and national decisions, adding that NDC MPs remained committed to advancing the ideals that inspired the June 4 Revolution.
Rawlings was twice Head of State during military rule, the second stint spanning December 31, 1981 to January 6, 1993 before leading the NDC to electoral victory as he transitioned as the first democratically elected President of the Fourth Republic from January 7, 1993 to January 6, 1997 and again from January 7, 1997 to January 6, 2001.
