The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) and President of the Republic of South Africa HE. Cyril Ramaphosa has described the passing of former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings as a loss to the entire continent. 

President Rawlings passed away on Thursday,12 November 2020, in the capital Accra at the age of 73. 

President Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences to the government and people of the Republic of Ghana. 

“This is particularly sad news for us as South Africa; President Rawlings was a great friend of the anti-apartheid struggle,” the President said. 

In 1957 Ghana became the first the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence from colonial rule. The country became a refuge for activists from national liberation movements on the continent, including the exiled African National Congress (ANC). 

“In those dark days when they were exiled from the land of their birth, President Rawlings offered our leaders and fighters refuge; even assisting them to secure Ghanaian passports,” President Ramaphosa said. 

During his tenure as Head of State, President Rawlings was an active and vocal participant in the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the forerunner to the African Union (AU). 

President Ramaphosa said that Ghana has been a steadfast ally of South Africa in getting support for numerous resolutions at the OAU and the AU. 

President Ramaphosa paid tribute to the late former President Rawlings as a champion of the poor who abhorred corruption. 

“As we collectively strive as African nations to realize the aspirations of the AU’s Agenda 2063, we look to the examples set by leaders like President Rawlings who handed over power to a civilian government, and sought to advance democracy in their respective societies,” President Ramaphosa said. 

“President Rawlings has left an indelible mark in the history of not just Ghana but the entire continent; he will be forever remembered for championing African unity throughout his life,” the President added. 


Media enquiries:  Tyrone Seale, Acting Spokesperson to the President at media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria