Rashid Bawa Dies in Abuja

His Excellency, Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria is dead; the Commission announced in an official statement last Saturday which said his body has been flown to Ghana for burial in accordance with Islamic funeral practice.

Rashid Bawa, according to the statement died in Abuja on Thursday March 14 and the Commission has opened a Book of Condolence in his memory.

“In memory of His Excellency Alhaji Rashid Bawa, a Book of Condolence will be available for signing at the Chancery in Abuja on the following dates and times: Wednesday, 20th March 2024 to Friday, 22nd March 2024, from 11 am to 4 pm; Monday, 25th March 2024 to Wednesday”, it noted and called on all to join in paying respects and honouring the legacy of the departed High Commissioner.

Rashid Bawa in December last year was elected as the 2024 New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Akan Constituency of the Oti Region. His unexpected death on Thursday March 14 would necessitate another parliamentary primaries to elect a candidate for the Party in the Akan Constituency.

Exactly a week before the unexpected death of Rashid Bawa last Thursday, the NPP parliamentary candidate for the Akan Constituency, the Party’s candidate for the Ejisu Constituency in the Ashanti Region, John Kumah was as well reported dead, also on a Thursday, precisely on March 7.  Both deaths are said to be due to short illnesses.

Rashid Bawa once served as Ghana’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and had was  the Member of Parliament for  the Akan Constituency from 7 January 2001 to 6 January 2005 as an independent candidate.

Meanwhile, messages of condolence from across the world have started pouring in after the death of Rashid Bawa was confirmed.

The Government of Nigeria, in a statement signed by Francisca Omayuli, Spokesperson at the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs read:

“The Federal Government of Nigeria, with a deep sense of sadness extends its condolences to the Government and people of the Republic of Ghana over the demise of H.E. Rashid Bawa, Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, on Thursday, 14th March 2024, in Abuja after a brief illness.

“The late High Commissioner was a fine diplomat who contributed immensely to furthering the longstanding and strategic relations between Nigeria and Ghana.

“His diplomatic prowess and genuine commitment to promoting friendly relations and mutual understanding between the two sister countries, throughout his tenure as Ghana’s principal representative in Nigeria, will forever be appreciated. He will be greatly missed.

“May his soul rest in peace, and may God grant the bereaved family, the government, and the good people of Ghana the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”