By Nana Karikari, Senior International Affairs and Political Analyst
Beyond a simple act of diplomatic courtesy, the naming of a street in the capital city of Burkina Faso after the late Flight lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, Ghana’s former president, represents a strategic recognition and a robust reaffirmation of shared revolutionary principles within a West African subregion still grappling with enormous and complicated challenges. This symbolic act is more than just commemoration, implying deeper geopolitical motivations and a shared historical awareness.
The dedication of the avenue to Ghana’s longest-serving leader and unveiling of a plaque which was administered by Burkina Faso’s Minister for Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Mr. Gilbert Ouedraogo on behalf of the country’s Prime Minister, was also attended by the Mayor of Ouagadougou, Maurice Konaté, a delegation from the Thomas Sankara Memorial Committee and members of the public.
Minister Gilbert Ouédraogo paid tribute to the memory of a great fighter for the emancipation of our continent, a voice of Pan-Africanism, a worthy son of Africa, and a great friend of Captain Thomas Sankara and Burkina Faso. “In our history, we recognise the multifaceted and selfless support that President Jerry John Rawlings once provided to Captain Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara, father of the Burkina Faso Revolution. We cannot ignore the willingness he demonstrated in his time to uncover the truth during the investigation into the assassination of President Sankara,” Minister Gilbert Ouédraogo declared.
A Testament to Enduring Solidarity
The family of former President Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, has expressed gratitude to the government and people of Burkina Faso for the gesture, describing it as an honour not only to the family, but to the people of Ghana.
Ms. Yaa Asantewaa Agyeman-Rawlings, daughter of Flt Lt Rawlings, accompanied by her brother, Kimathi Agyeman-Rawlings, stated, “This is a huge recognition of the legacy of a man who dedicated his life to social justice, a man who gave his life in service to the ordinary people.”
In an interview with Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Kimathi shed light on the connection between his father and Captain Sankara, noting, “President Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, my father, was a huge supporter of the foundation [Thomas Sankara Foundation] and he was a very close friend of Thomas Sankara.”
Remnants of Shared Revolutionary Ideals
The late captain Sankara, a charismatic and radical anti-imperialist, ruled Burkina Faso with a revolutionary but fleeting impact, until his assassination in 1987, his policies centered on self-reliance and radical social transformation.
While Sankara’s impact was within Burkina Faso, the idea of recognizing contributions, especially those with a unifying vision, resonates more broadly.
Kimathi expressed the deeper meaning, saying “It means a lot to be here and it means a lot that the whole of Africa was more or less here to support this momentous occasion,’ adding with a vision for unity, ‘United we will rise and divide we will fall. That’s the way I look at it.” Such remarks are yet another testament to the relevance of Pan-African ideals within contemporary Africa.
Burkina Faso’s current leader, Ibrahim Traoré—also a military leader, having taken power after his own coup—was present at this year’s John Dramani Mahama inauguration, a public display of ongoing, top-level engagement between the two countries. This symbolic street naming is the icing on a rich historical cake. In particular, under Rawlings’ leadership, Ghana provided shelter to a number of Burkinabe political dissidents during times of unrest. Ghana also facilitated mediation towards a resolution of political tensions in Burkina Faso in the late 1980s. These historical ties provide fertile ground for the all-too-real, present-day symbolic gesture.
Ghana’s Perspective: A Legacy Viewed Across Borders
For Ghana, the honor shown to the late Rawlings by a neighboring country is a form of external stamp of approval for his broader Pan-African contributions, especially at a moment when memory of his domestic legacy remains the subject of an ongoing and often fiery debate
A Ghanaian resident at the event best expressed the overall sentiment, noting “It’s good to see his contributions recognized abroad, even if at home opinions are divided.”
This points to the need for a more comprehensive admiration of Rawlings’ legacy, acknowledging both his influence on the continent as well as the scandals of his time in office. This external recognition assumes greater significance faced, especially when weighed against the complexities of Kwame Nkrumah’s legacy — even within Ghana itself. It suggests the notion that sometimes, a vision from afar can offer a clearer lens to gauge a leader’s legacy.
Burkina Faso’s Calculus: Strategic Regionalism in Action
To Burkina Faso, the decision to designate a major street in Rawlings’ name seems less like a friendly diplomatic gesture and more like a calculated geopolitical move by the Ibrahim Traoré government.
With heavy-heated internal and external challenges, including a threat to its security, the need to build stable regional partnerships, moving in step with this memory of a man known as a powerful leader and anti-corruption ties could enhance the reputation and popularity of the current government. This move is also being made at a moment when Burkina Faso is taking great strides to rebalance its partnerships with nearby allies in response to the deteriorating security situations in the Sahel. Honoring Rawlings, a leader associated with stability and the end to old systems, could resonate with Burkina Faso’s current aspirations.
A Global Tapestry of Symbolic Honors
Globally, It is not unusual to dedicate public spaces to influential foreign leaders who symbolize shared historical or ideological values. Such practices are usually a reflection of specific geopolitical dispositions or commemorate pivotal historical junctures. Post-colonial Africa, for example, has numerous tributes to prominent liberation fighters – boulevardier de Nelson Mandela in South Africa for example, symbolizes the shared pan-African struggle against apartheid.
In Latin America, Simón Bolívar, the leader of independence movements across the region, is honored in almost every country in which he fought for independence. Similarly, the image and name of Che Guevara has transnational appeal among those who identify with anti-imperialist struggle.
As for Senegal, its longstanding tradition of renaming highways after important Malian individuals is just one example of what this regional brotherhood truly looks like.
On the question of Ghana returning the favor, there have been instances when Ghana has paid tribute to personalities from around the world, even if perhaps not with street names on the same scale as seen in Ouagadougou. For example, statues and sometimes institutions are named after pan-Africanists who made significant contributions towards Ghana’s development or the greater anti-colonial struggle. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, is in turn himself universally celebrated with monumental structures and educational institutions named after him all over the African continent.
Nevertheless, the choice of Rawlings, whose track record in his own nation is mixed between praising the establishment of stability and criticism for dictatorial rule, brings a level of complication that international observers might perceive as evidence of altering democratic values and human rights rhetoric. This move can be taken to be Burkina Faso’s signal of a bias in a post-colonial leadership paradigm that prioritized a strong, authoritative, centralized state—and a far more hostile approach to foreign interference. Undoubtedly, there’s tremendous intricacy here, still there’s something profoundly fascinating about the gesture from Burkina Faso.
Echoes Among the People
This symbolic honor can, and should, go much farther. It has the potential to touch the hearts of everyday people in both countries. For many Ghanaians, they would probably feel national pride to have one of their former leaders formally acknowledged abroad. Simultaneously, many Burkinabe will likely see this as a concrete reminder of lasting solidarity and common historical comprehension
A vox-pop interview conducted by Sidwaya, a Burkinabe daily, demonstrated this sentiment, with one resident stating, “We share a history. We understand each other.”
Geopolitical Undercurrents and Economic Realities
While real, concrete figures on cooperative military exercises or individual bilateral trade actions were unavailable at present, reviewing economic commerce provided quantifiable insights into the Ghana-Burkina Faso alliance. In 2023, Ghana’s exports to Burkina Faso totaled $574 million, while Burkina Faso’s exports to Ghana came to $93.8 million. Generally, examining ECOWAS metrics for economic commerce would further throw more light on the bilateral relations. Notably, by the end of 2024, Burkina Faso’s exports to Ghana stood at CFAF 7.7 billion, making Ghana its 4th biggest supplier among non-WAEMU ECOWAS exporters. The Ghanaian imports represented 8.1% of Burkina Faso’s total import value during the same period.
It is worth mentioning that such future studies would be further valuable with the addition of more advanced bilateral trade data and possibly by being compared to ECOWAS regional trends to further illuminate their economic dimension.
In terms of the geopolitical context within the region, veteran security analyst Dr. Kwesi Aning,of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, noted, “In a region plagued by instability, such gestures of solidarity are vital for maintaining regional cohesion. The timing, as the region grapples with the rise of non-state actors, may also be significant.”
A Shared Vision for Africa’s Horizon
Ultimately, the renaming of a street in Ouagadougou in honor of Jerry John Rawlings goes beyond the short-term world of day-to-day politics and diplomatic niceties. In a ceremony dazzling with the national colors of Ghana and bilateral respect, this act is a bold and enduring symbol of a continued quest for African unity, a dream fiercely advocated by both the late Rawlings and Thomas Sankara.
Reiterating this sentiment, Kimathi Rawlings was hopeful: “I think now more than ever, we have the opportunity to come together as a continent… Together, I think we can be a force for good in this world… I think our leaders are on the precipice of making that happen. So I think we’re in a good place.”
While West Africa continues to navigate through complicated pathways toward deeper integration and battling security challenges of their own, The gesture was highlighted by the personal connection and forward-thinking vision articulated by Rawlings’ son, Kimathi. Indeed, It can only bode well for a continued commitment to regional unity and a collective charting of the future. This simple act of commemoration should serve as a powerful reminder of the enduring impact that shared ideals can have in facilitating regional collaboration.
