The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled a set of proposals aimed at honouring the legacy of its late founder and former president, Jerry John Rawlings, while reaffirming the party’s revolutionary roots.
The initiatives, announced by NDC National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah during a ceremony marking the 46th anniversary of the June 4 uprising, include renaming the party’s national headquarters “Jerry Rawlings House” and designating June as “NDC Month.” An amendment to the party’s constitution is also on the table, which would formally recognise 22 June, Rawlings’ birthday as a significant day in the party’s calendar.
“These are not just symbolic gestures,” said Mr Asiedu Nketiah. “They are part of an effort to restore and preserve the historical memory and values of the party, rooted in the ideals of accountability, justice, and revolutionary action.”
Jerry John Rawlings, who seized power through a coup in 1979 and later transitioned into Ghana’s first democratically elected president of the Fourth Republic, remains a towering figure in the country’s political history. His legacy continues to stir debate, but within the NDC, he is widely revered as the party’s founding father.
Chairman Asiedu Nketiah defended the move to rename the headquarters, stating, “All over the world, parties name their headquarters after their founders. Ghana should be no different.” He noted that internal processes would begin soon to secure the necessary approvals from the party’s National Executive Committee.
The NDC leader also expressed concern over the current state of Revolutionary Square, located in front of the Jubilee House in Accra, describing it as neglected and symbolic of a fading connection to Ghana’s revolutionary past.
“I am calling for the creation of a planning committee to work on reviving the Revolutionary Square. This is not just a monument, it is a lesson for future generations,” Mr Asiedu Nketiah said, urging collaboration with the Museums and Monuments Board.
The June 4 commemoration held this year at Agormanya Lasi Park in the Eastern Region brought together party faithful, historians, and community leaders to reflect on the events of 1979, when then Flight Lieutenant Rawlings led a popular uprising against corruption and misrule.
While supporters of the NDC see the proposals as a long-overdue tribute, critics have questioned whether the moves are more about political branding than national unity.
Nonetheless, for many within the party, the initiatives represent a moment of introspection and a reaffirmation of what they see as the core values of the NDC.
“This is not just about Rawlings the man,” said long-time party member Edna Ayensu. “It’s about Rawlings the message. That message is accountability to the people.”
The proposals are expected to be debated further at the next sitting of the NDC’s National Executive Committee later this year.
