Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a former Minister of Trade, says late former President Jerry John Rawlings, promoted Christian values through his lifestyle and despised bribery, corruption, illegal mining, and environmental degradation.
He said he (Rawlings), also fought for social justice and longed for the total wellbeing of the nation.
“We should remember his values of integrity, probity and accountability, transparency and social justice. These are the values I have inculcated personally in my life,” he said.
“People should abide by his values as I have tried to live by it in my way. Unless we want to say living by those values is for old people or old-timers and that they are no longer applicable to Ghana.”
On behalf of Ghanaians living in Georgia, the Ghana Council of Georgia joins all Ghanaians in bidding former President Jerry John Rawlings farewell on this solemn occasion that we honor and salute the old soldier as he goes home to join our dearly departed.
Ghanaians of various political orientations have eulogised the late former President Jerry John Rawlings for his supreme charisma.
Mourners at the state funeral of the First President of the Fourth Republic told the Ghana News Agency that the late former President’s ability to appeal to people from all ethnic backgrounds was a rare trait worthy of admiration.
Philip Kwame Osei Safo, a photographer, said: “I met him in 1983 when on one occasion I had gathered a group of young people to construct a road. He was travelling by then and bumped into us; he alighted and held a brief conversation with us. He then invited me over to his abode and asked me to be his photographer.”
The remains of Mr. Rawlings has been lying in state since Monday.
The general public and dignitaries have taken the opportunity to pay their last respects.
His funeral rituals are being held in strict adherence to safety protocols.
Mr. Rawlings died on November 12 last year at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in, Accra, after a short illness.
He was credited with maintaining the country’s stability. J.J Rawlings as he was fondly called led a military regime for more than a decade before returning Ghana to multiparty democracy in 1992.
He also contributed to peace efforts in Liberia and Sierra Leone during the civil wars in the 90s.
The dishonest or fraudulent conduct by some people in power has become a canker that has proven difficult to deal with.
The act makes people compromise on their responsibilities and in most cases, leaves the poor at the mercy of another’s decision.
Jerry John Rawlings came to power in Ghana as a flight lieutenant of the Ghana Air Force following a coup d état in 1979.
Rawlings grew discontented with Ignatius Kutu Acheampong s government, which had come to power through a coup in January 1972.
Acheampong was accused not only of corruption but also of maintaining Ghana s dependency on pre-colonial powers, in a situation that led to economic decline and impoverishment.