The Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, has urged Ghanaians to honour the legacy of former President Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings by living out the ideals he stood for, saying monuments alone cannot preserve his memory.
She made the call on Wednesday in Keta at a ceremony to unveil a statue in honour of her late father, describing the monument as a symbol of his lifelong commitment to probity, accountability, humility, service and integrity.
Dr Agyeman Rawlings said the true measure of President Rawlings’ legacy lay in how citizens conducted their lives rather than in physical memorials. “It is our way of life more than anything else that will make meaning to his legacy. If we can all live by those ideals that is how we honour his memory,” she said.
She recalled that the former President was often reluctant to be commemorated with monuments, preferring instead to be remembered through the impact of his values on society. “Which was why he always insisted that he preferred to be in the hearts of people rather than inscribed on walls or in the form of monuments. But there are many ways to honour the memory of someone who has done amazing things. We thank those who put together this concept to honour his memory. We also support their noble intention,” she added.
The ceremony was attended by the Awoamefia of Anlo, Togbi Sri III, the Awadada, Togbi Agbesi Awusu II, and other traditional leaders from Anlo State, as well as political figures and members of the Rawlings family.
Dr Agyeman Rawlings said the family honoured the invitation despite being in mourning following the passing of Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings, noting the significance of the occasion to both Anlo State and the nation.
Accompanied by her brother, Kimathi Agyeman Rawlings, she expressed hope that future generations would understand the meaning of the monument and help preserve it. She said the statue should inspire reflection about Ghana’s past, present and future and encourage young people to ask questions about the country’s direction.
Speaking on the theme of President Rawlings’ leadership, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, highlighted the late leader’s commitment to coastal livelihoods, fisheries and environmental justice. He recalled the Keta Sea Defence Project as a major intervention that protected lives, homes and heritage from coastal erosion.
“He challenged entrenched privilege and reminded public officials that power without integrity is meaningless. His insistence on discipline and accountability became a defining feature of his leadership,” Dr Djokoto said. He also described democratic stability as one of President Rawlings’ most enduring legacies, noting that Ghana’s peaceful elections and constitutional governance continue to earn the country respect across Africa.The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said the monument was meant to educate younger generations who did not witness President Rawlings’ leadership. He recalled that the former President rejected several attempts to honour him while he was alive. “He wanted to live in the hearts of people. He refused for a university that he founded to be named after him. He refused the naming of an FPSO after him. He became the Head of State with the rank of Flight Lieutenant and refused to accept promotion,” he said.
Mr Asiedu Nketia said the party believed the time was right to honour President Rawlings, adding that the NDC resolved in 2025 to name its national headquarters Jerry John Rawlings House. He said the monument would help younger Ghanaians appreciate the former leader’s contribution to national development and democratic governance.
Sponsors of the statue, Mawuko Djikunu and Selassie Kekesie, said in a statement read on their behalf that President Rawlings transformed Ghana’s destiny and inspired millions across Africa. They said the monument was intended to remind the youth that “greatness is borne from service, courage and integrity” and to celebrate a leader who believed in ordinary people and loved his country.
