Omane Boamah leads Ghana to join Burkina Faso in honoring Sankara and Rawlings at historic memorial ceremony

Ghana’s Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, led a delegation to Burkina Faso. They represented President John Dramani Mahama at the Thomas Sankara Memorial Park inauguration.

The event honored Captain Thomas Sankara and twelve comrades. They were assassinated on October 15, 1987. A towering statue and tributes from across Africa marked the occasion.

Dr. Boamah called the visit one of solidarity. He noted the shared revolutionary spirit between Ghana and Burkina Faso. “These heroes are ‘fallen but forever alive in their hearts,’” he stated.

The new memorial serves as a place of remembrance and reflection. It also symbolizes revolutionary ideals for future generations. “This memorial will help them overcome oppression and defeat colonialism,” he added.

In a significant moment, they honored Ghana’s late former president, Jerry John Rawlings. Dr. Boamah mentioned that Rawlings received immense praise posthumously. A street in Ouagadougou will be named after him.

This tribute highlights Rawlings’ ties with Sankara. Both leaders supported pan-Africanism and anti-imperialist governance.

The Ghanaian delegation included key national security figures. Dr. Boamah thanked Minister Muntaka Mubarak and Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu for their support. He also acknowledged Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey (rtd) and Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.

He recognized contributions from former National Security heads under Rawlings: Naval Captain Asaase Gyima (rtd) and Mr. Kofi Totobi Quakyi.

Dr. Boamah expressed gratitude to Burkina Faso's government and Defence Minister Brigadier General Celestin Simpore for their hospitality.

“We were proud to represent Ghana at this historic occasion,” he said.

The event honored fallen revolutionaries while reaffirming the alliance between Ghana and Burkina Faso against terrorism and neocolonialism.