PAP pays tribute to Jerry Rawlings

The Acting President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), Hon. Bouras Djamel has behalf of the PAP, commiserated with the Rawlings family, the people and government of Ghana over the demise of His Excellency John Jerry Rawlings, first President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.

Read the full Statement:

 

It’s with a heavy heart and great sadness that we learned of the demise of His Excellency Jerry Rawlings, first President of the fourth Republic of Ghana.

His Excellency Rawlings was a renowned statesman and Pan-Africanist, who led from the front. He was a fervent advocate for Africa’s unity and the political emancipation of our continent.

President Rawlings embodied the ideals of the African Union and he strongly believed in the Pan-African Parliament as a key driver of African integration. His interest and active involvement in the activities of the continental legislature earned him the title of Goodwill Ambassador for the Pan-African Parliament.

In his address at the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, His Excellency Rawlings said: “Africa has power in numbers and resources. It has power also in size and cultural uniqueness, and this can be blended into a powerful voice of reason. Integration may sound ambitious for a huge 54-member organisation, but continued delay further relegates the continent to the depths of irrelevance.”

We will always remember him and his legacy will live on forever. We will miss his selfless leadership.

Our heartfelt condolences to his family, the people and government of Ghana.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Hon. Bouras Djamel

Acting President of the PAP