Five years after President Jerry John Rawlings passed on, a new airline flying into Ghana, United Nigerian Airlines, has honoured his memory by naming one of its aircraft after the former Ghanaian President.
The J.J. Rawlings aircraft flew into Ghana on Monday morning as United Nigeria Airlines’ inaugural flight from Abuja to Accra.
On board were a number of dignitaries including Ghana’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Baba Jamal, Chief Professor Obiora Okonkwo, Chairman and CEO of United Nigeria Airlines, senior Nigerian Aviation officials and a host of others.
Upon arrival a representative of the Rawlings family, former Minister and Member of Parliament, Fritz Baffour, joined Chief Professor Obiora to unveil the name of the aircraft. The inscription read J.J. Rawlings…The legend lives on.
At a formal inaugural ceremony held at Kotoka International Airport’s Terminal Three, Gate C8, the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, in an address, expressed gratitude to United Nigeria Airlines for naming an aircraft after President Jerry John Rawlings.
He recalled the late former President stating that he would rather prefer to live in the hearts of men, than have his name on monuments, streets and circles.
He said: “Today the hearts of men, President Rawlings referred to, has been manifested in the naming of the United Airlines aircraft after him.”
The Minister said because President Rawlings lives in the hearts of men, he has been recognized even beyond his country.
“When we say the legend lives on, this is a good demonstration of what it means,” the Minister of Sports and Recreation stated.
Mr. Adams recalled how the former President’s love for flying contributed significantly to the rural electrification project which saw power distributed to all parts of Ghana. When he flew across Ghana at night and saw lights only in Accra and Kumasi, that inspired him to work hard to ensure that the rest of the country benefitted from electricity.
Mr. Fritz Baffour, former Minister for Information and Member of Parliament, who stood in for the Rawlings family in the light of their recent unfortunate state of bereavement, extended the family’s gratitude to United Nigeria Airlines for the honour done former President Rawlings, stating that the honour will stay forever.
“Since we are very close to Nigeria and we share very common bonds, this is a plus for us to come closer together. When Nigeria and Ghana get together no one can stand us. If we come together we will be bigger than the United States,” Mr. Baffour said.
When it was the turn of Chief Professor Obiora Okonkwo, he requested the observation of a minute’s silence in honour of former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, after he had offered his condolences to the family.
He recounted how discussions took place a while ago to celebrate the fifth anniversary of President Rawlings’ passing with the naming of an aircraft after the renowned Air Force pilot.
He thanked officials of both countries who had made it to the inaugural event and promised to ensure that United Nigeria brought quality to the aviation industry in West Africa.