A high-level delegation from Ghana joined the government and people of Burkina Faso on Saturday in Ouagadougou for the inauguration of a memorial park and an imposing statue commemorating the life and legacy of Captain Thomas Sankara.
Thomas Isidore Noël Sankara, a revered Burkinabè military leader and Pan-Africanist, served as President of Burkina Faso from 1983 until his assassination in 1987 at the age of 37. Often dubbed “Africa’s Che Guevara,” Sankara remains a symbol of revolutionary leadership and anti-imperialism.
Representing President John Dramani Mahama at the ceremony were Ghana’s Minister of Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister of the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, among other key government officials. Their presence marked a powerful gesture of Pan-African unity and Ghana’s continued solidarity with its Sahelian neighbor.
Also part of the Ghanaian delegation were Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister for Government Communications and presidential spokesperson; Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey (rtd), Ghana’s Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahel States; and Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Security and Intelligence. Two former national security veterans under President Jerry Rawlings—Naval Captain Asaase Gyima (rtd) and Mr. Kofi Totobi Quakyi—were also in attendance.
The memorial honours not only Sankara but also the twelve comrades who were killed alongside him on October 15, 1987. During the ceremony, Burkina Faso’s leadership emphasized that these national heroes may have fallen, but they live on eternally in the hearts of their people.
The newly unveiled Thomas Sankara Memorial is envisioned as both a reflective space and a beacon of revolution—symbolizing Burkina Faso’s ongoing journey to rise above oppression, colonialism, and terrorism.
In a related tribute, the late former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings, received posthumous recognition for his Pan-African contributions. According to Dr. Omane Boamah, a ceremonial street in Ouagadougou will be named in Rawlings’ honour later this week.
The Ghanaian delegation was warmly received by Burkina Faso’s Minister for Defence, Brig. General Celestin Simpore.
