BY Issah Olegor
United Nigeria Airlines, UNA has honored the memory of former Ghanaian President Jerry John Rawlings by naming one of its aircraft after him.
The J.J. Rawlings aircraft flew into Ghana on Monday morning as the airline’s inaugural flight from Abuja to Accra, marking a significant milestone in the country’s aviation history.
The aircraft, inscribed with “J.J. Rawlings…The legend lives on,” was unveiled at Kotoka International Airport’s Terminal Three, Gate C8, in a ceremony attended by dignitaries, including Ghana High Commissioner to Nigeria, Baba Jamal, and Chairman and CEO of United Nigeria Airlines, Chief Professor Obiora Okonkwo.
The Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, expressed gratitude to UNA for the honor, recalling Rawlings’ statement that he would rather live in the hearts of men than have his name on monuments, streets, and circles.
Kofi Adams highlighted Rawlings’ love for flying and its contribution to Ghana’s rural electrification project, noting that his legacy continues to inspire.
Fritz Baffour, representing the Rawlings family, thanked the Airlines for the honor, stating it would stay forever.
Chief Okonkwo requested a minute’s silence in honor of former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and promised to ensure United Nigeria brings quality to the aviation industry in West Africa.
The event underscores the strong bilateral ties between Ghana and Nigeria, with Baffour emphasizing the potential benefits of increased cooperation between the two nations.
“When Nigeria and Ghana get together, no one can stand us. If we come together, we will be bigger than the United States,” he said.
