By Abiola Olawale
The Federal Government of Nigeria has extended its condolences to the Government and people of the Republic of Ghana over the death of the country’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Rashid Bawa.
This was contained in a statement signed and issued on Sunday, by Francisca K. Omayuli (Mrs), Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In the statement, the FG described the demise of Bawa as a great loss to Nigeria, Ghana, and the whole diplomatic community across the globe.
The statement reads: “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.”
The New Diplomat reports that the 83-year-old diplomat, who had also served as Ghana’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, succumbed to the cold hands of death in Nigeria last week Thursday.
Bawa was a Ghanaian politician, diplomat, and a member of the New Patriotic Party of Ghana. He was Ghana’s ambassador to Nigeria until his death on Thursday.
He had previously served as Ghana’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He was a former Member of Parliament. He was the member of parliament for Akan Constituency of the Republic of Ghana from January 7, 2001, to January 6, 2005, as an independent.
He was elected as the member of parliament for the Akan constituency in the Volta region in the 3rd parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana.
Bawa was elected as a member of parliament for the Akan constituency in the 2000 Ghanaian general elections. He was an independent candidate for the said elections.
His was the second independent candidate to win the 2000 election in the Volta Region. He was elected with 12,306 votes out of 22,533 total valid votes cast.
This was equivalent to 54.9% of the total valid votes cast. He was elected over John K. Gyapong of the National Democratic Congress, Kofi Asiedu-Mensah of the New Patriotic Party, Gibson-Godfried Akromah of the Convention People’s Party, and Peter K.E. Ansah of the National Reformed Party.
