<<Print>>

Head of Psychology at the University of Ghana, Professor Joseph Osafo has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his speech when the late former President Jerry John Rawlings' family paid him a visit at the Jubilee House.

The family visited the President on Thursday, November 12, 2020 to officially announce the death of the former President.

Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings passed away at the age of 73 at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Thursday after a short illness.

He left behind his wife Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings and four children.

During the family's visit, the President narrated how turbulent he and the late former President's relationship was for years as a result of their political differences.

He also emphasized that they were however able to lay aside their differences and found value in each other which resulted in they becoming best friends.

“I will like to extend my deepest condolences to the family, his widow, children, brothers and the entire family.

“I was given this information when I arrived at the office and I found it hard up to now to cope with the information. This is a man of great vitality, dynamism and energy.

“It is very difficult to go and see dead body lying in the morgue but then it is one of the things that all of us have got to get use to because the almighty has his own plans for each one of us.

“He and I had tempestuous relationship over many years but I believe that we came to see value in each other in the end. I am extremely disturbed and saddened by his passage. He is not an ordinary Ghanaian, he was the first president of our Fourth Republic'', President Akufo-Addo said.

Contributing to Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", Prof. Joseph Osafo touted the President's speech as powerful and one that speaks volumes.

According to him, the President has shown a mark of great leadership.

Prof. Joseph Osafo believed the President didn't speak to the late Statesman's family alone but advised entire nation to co-exist peacefully despite each other's political affiliations.

''It's a mark of a leader who is very mature in handling human emotions, differences and disagreements.''